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#1 2010-07-22 12:45:57
- MathsIsFun
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Mathopolis Estimate Volume Challenge
I have been working on a "Challenge" function for Mathopolis. The idea is that you can create a multi-person challenge that lasts for X days. It is "beta" software and I would like to test it out, so here is a Challenge for you guys:
http://www.mathopolis.com/user/challeng … &c=665
You will need to log in. Please join this Challenge, have fun and let me know of any bugs/improvements as you go.
"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..." - Leon M. Lederman
#2 2010-07-22 13:50:32
- bobbym
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Re: Mathopolis Estimate Volume Challenge
Everything fine except my scores!
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#3 2010-07-22 14:23:35
- MathsIsFun
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Re: Mathopolis Estimate Volume Challenge
Well ... good so far. Software seems to work, AND I am still in the lead 
"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..." - Leon M. Lederman
#4 2010-07-22 22:29:31
- bobbym
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Re: Mathopolis Estimate Volume Challenge
Latest score 20, I am definitely going down!
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#5 2010-07-22 23:42:21
- mathsyperson
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Re: Mathopolis Estimate Volume Challenge
MathsIsFun wrote:
AND I am still in the lead
Well that must be a bug. Fixed for you. 
It looks good though. I can't think of anything I'd like changed.
Edit: When I look at my "You" page, it tells me "Challenges: 8".
Clicking on the 8 takes me to the scoreboard of the volume challenge. What does the 8 mean?
Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.
#6 2010-07-23 07:36:50
- MathsIsFun
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Re: Mathopolis Estimate Volume Challenge
bobbym: try quickly guessing the harder ones (you may get a point or 2), and working out the easier ones (get max points there)
mathsy: rats!
The "8" is the challenge number, it doesn't mean anything and I should really put something else there.
"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..." - Leon M. Lederman
#7 2010-07-23 07:42:32
- bobbym
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Re: Mathopolis Estimate Volume Challenge
I'll give that a try! Now I just have figure out which ones are the hard ones.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#8 2010-07-27 10:37:26
- MathsIsFun
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Re: Mathopolis Estimate Volume Challenge
mathsy has just set a new high bar.
Doesn't anyone want to try to beat him?
"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..." - Leon M. Lederman
#9 2010-07-27 11:34:43
- quittyqat
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Re: Mathopolis Estimate Volume Challenge
1. Can anyone beat him?
2. It is all fine except my score. I keep getting them completely wrong! 
I'll be here at least once every month. XP
#10 2010-07-27 14:43:11
- bobbym
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Re: Mathopolis Estimate Volume Challenge
I have been trying.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#11 2010-07-27 15:25:41
- MathsIsFun
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Re: Mathopolis Estimate Volume Challenge
I see you are within 1 point of me!
"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..." - Leon M. Lederman
#12 2010-07-27 15:27:24
- bobbym
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Re: Mathopolis Estimate Volume Challenge
1 point or 100, looks the same to me.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#13 2010-07-29 07:36:13
- MathsIsFun
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Re: Mathopolis Estimate Volume Challenge
On noes! You are ahead!
"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..." - Leon M. Lederman
#14 2010-07-29 08:00:34
- bobbym
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Re: Mathopolis Estimate Volume Challenge
On noes! You are ahead!
Yes, it is a great victory and one I will remember for decades to come.
Begin Rant:
I am sort of tired of seeing web games that cater to those with 20 -15 vision and steady hands. The kind of games where they get scores and times that don't even seem possible in this physical universe.
Look at the Jane's, mathsy's and phrontister's all under 28 years old. How about designing some games for the people who drop the mouse repeatedly and must plaster their nose up against the monitor. You know for the people who think all music sounds the same. For the people who must endure back spasms while they play. For the people like me who say, "is that a cylinder?"
End Rant:
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#15 2010-07-29 10:17:16
- mathsyperson
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Re: Mathopolis Estimate Volume Challenge
How about this as a variant?
Remove the time limit, and focus on accuracy more than speed.
You get shown a pair of containers like you are now, and asked to guess the volume in the same way.
If you get at least one tick, you score a point. If you don't, the game ends. (Or maybe you lose a life)
As you score more points, you have to get more and more accurate to avoid being penalised.
(For example, once you have 5 points you'd need to get at least 2 ticks to be rewarded)
Maybe there should still be a timer to stop people working it out on their calculators (it's an estimation game), but it should be lenient enough to give people a bit of thinking time, and fill up again for each new question.
Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.
#16 2010-07-29 14:20:47
- bobbym
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Re: Mathopolis Estimate Volume Challenge
Hi all;
mathsyperson wrote:
Remove the time limit, and focus on accuracy more than speed.
I can't recommend that. Remove the time limit and poster #14 is certainly going to write a program that does it for him. We have all heard losers like him whine before. Believe me I know that guy, he gets a good score then everything is great. If he doesn't then jeez there is something wrong with the game. Are we supposed to cater to his every whim? Tell that sissy to stop the crying!
If I remember correctly and I think I do, MIF made lot's of changes in the wordsearch game to suit him. Did it help? Guess what, phrontister's times were less that 1 / 2 of his. Was he dropping the mouse then? I think he was just dropping the ball!
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#17 2010-07-29 22:20:44
- bobbym
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Re: Mathopolis Estimate Volume Challenge
I see the challenge is over! Who won?
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
#18 2010-07-30 07:21:02
- MathsIsFun
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Re: Mathopolis Estimate Volume Challenge
mathsy by a big margin.
You came 2nd, me 3rd.
Thanks guys for the good suggestions. I will look at them in greater detail after I have reestablished my PC (switched to Win7 from XP, which is a "start again" proposition ... I feel like I have moved into an empty house and have to go furnish it all again!)
"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..." - Leon M. Lederman
#19 2010-07-30 07:25:14
- bobbym
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Re: Mathopolis Estimate Volume Challenge
Good luck, nothings more fun than spending days rebuilding with a new OS.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Probability is the most important concept in modern science, especially as nobody has the slightest notion what it means.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.