# First Ever $Mathathon \ 2020$

The Math-athon is an event hosted by me.

All contestants need to solve problems posted by me and post solutions.

The best solutions shall be selected by me. The selection process involves these parameters -

Uniqueness - $10$ points (Most Unique answer gets more points)

Latex - $10$ points (Most Latex-y answer gets more points)

No mistakes - $10$ points (Most accurate answer gets more points)

Up Votes - $10$ points (Most helpful and easy to understand answer gets more points)

Time - $10$ points (Earliest answer gets more points)

$10$ points in total

There will be $3$ stages - Easy, Medium and Hard

The same parameters and rules follow for all $3$ stages, only the difficulty of problems changes.

If you have used a formula or website, please give the link as a note under your solution.

If you have any questions post it in the comments.

$Top \ 5$ shall go in the Hall of Fame and leaderboard scores will be shown every saturday.

Problems will be posted every weekday.

The Math-athon starts on $Monday, \ 6th \ July$, all ages can participate.

May the smartest Math-athoners win!!!!!!!!

(Note : You can join till $5th \ July \ 11:59 \ PM$, after that no more applications accepted)

(Special Mention - Thank you to the RadMaths community for their support in this Mathathon, please check it out - RadMaths community , they help people learn and advance in Math with interesting questions and discussions.)

Note by Percy Jackson
1 day, 6 hours ago

This discussion board is a place to discuss our Daily Challenges and the math and science related to those challenges. Explanations are more than just a solution — they should explain the steps and thinking strategies that you used to obtain the solution. Comments should further the discussion of math and science.

When posting on Brilliant:

• Use the emojis to react to an explanation, whether you're congratulating a job well done , or just really confused .
• Ask specific questions about the challenge or the steps in somebody's explanation. Well-posed questions can add a lot to the discussion, but posting "I don't understand!" doesn't help anyone.
• Try to contribute something new to the discussion, whether it is an extension, generalization or other idea related to the challenge.

MarkdownAppears as
*italics* or _italics_ italics
**bold** or __bold__ bold
- bulleted- list
• bulleted
• list
1. numbered2. list
1. numbered
2. list
Note: you must add a full line of space before and after lists for them to show up correctly
paragraph 1paragraph 2

paragraph 1

paragraph 2

[example link](https://brilliant.org)example link
> This is a quote
This is a quote
    # I indented these lines
# 4 spaces, and now they show
# up as a code block.

print "hello world"
# I indented these lines
# 4 spaces, and now they show
# up as a code block.

print "hello world"
MathAppears as
Remember to wrap math in $$ ... $$ or $ ... $ to ensure proper formatting.
2 \times 3 $2 \times 3$
2^{34} $2^{34}$
a_{i-1} $a_{i-1}$
\frac{2}{3} $\frac{2}{3}$
\sqrt{2} $\sqrt{2}$
\sum_{i=1}^3 $\sum_{i=1}^3$
\sin \theta $\sin \theta$
\boxed{123} $\boxed{123}$

Sort by:

Nickname: I will come last

- 1 day, 4 hours ago

Awesome, funny nickname!

- 1 day, 4 hours ago

Maybe I'll change it, for now it is this.

- 1 day, 4 hours ago

Ok, changes can be made at any time before the contest

- 1 day, 4 hours ago

Hehe I got a downvote here also!

- 20 hours ago

LOL, spammers love you

- 20 hours ago

- 18 hours ago

I got it by some kind people who gave it after that downvote. So, now I have too many of them!

- 17 hours ago

Then,i am also kind:-)

- 17 hours ago

Yes, you are 'kind' of weird. Its a joke, don't take it seriously.

- 17 hours ago

Lmao...lol

- 17 hours ago

Haha you are funny

- 18 hours ago

Leaderboard will be updated every hour today, then every saturday from tomorrow

- 1 day, 5 hours ago

Username: Bách Hữu Trần Nickname: Falken09

- 21 hours ago

Username: Lorenz W. Chosen nickname: SPY2016

- 20 hours ago

- 6 hours ago

I had a doubt like what is the syllabus or difficulty of the questions?

- 1 day, 4 hours ago

Difficulty depends on the stage, so Easy stage has easy questions and so on. Most questions will be math but sometimes a few logic might slip through. Hope your doubt has been cleared :)

- 1 day, 4 hours ago

I mean will it include all branches of mathematics including algebra, probability, geometry, statistics, calculus and other branches.

- 1 day, 4 hours ago

Yes, of course. All branches of math are included.

- 1 day, 4 hours ago

OK cool Username: Kumudesh Ghosh Nickname: Anonymous

- 1 day, 5 hours ago

First Participant!! Welcome Anonymous!!

- 1 day, 5 hours ago

For those who don't know, Latex is a kind of formatting that people use to make solutions look more pleasing. You can see my Latex guide, but its horrible so i suggest Daniel Liu's Latex Guide

- 1 day, 4 hours ago

- 20 hours ago

$\text{\huge Attempt \ The \ Sample \ Question \ Everyone}$

- 7 hours ago

I thought it was a competition question.

- 5 hours ago

I might be late sometimes as I have exams coming soon, but I'll do my best to be consistent.

- 1 day, 3 hours ago

@Ved Pradhan , @Vinayak Srivastava , @Kriti Kamal , @Lam King Fung , Everyone, I have important news, I have decided to post a sample question tomorrow, to check if everything is going smoothly.

- 17 hours ago

$\huge 2nd \ SAMPLE \ PROBLEM, \ GO \ CHECK \ IT \ OUT, \ ITS \ LINK \ IS \ AVAILABLE \ ON \ THE \ ALL \ PROBLEMS \ PAGE!!!$

- 43 minutes ago

# GO TO THE SAMPLE PROBLEM, EVERYBODY! GO TO MATHATHON SAMPLE PROBLEM!

- 42 minutes ago

Its Algebra, I made it because I saw that you didn't like geometry and mensuration that much :)

- 40 minutes ago

But my # comment?

- 38 minutes ago

What # ??

- 28 minutes ago

The comment with capital and large letters?

Included a # .

- 11 minutes ago

Yes its awesome! What I meant was that you had posted in LeaderBoard that you don't like Geometry and Mensuration much, so I made an Algebra problem as a 2nd sample :)

- 9 minutes ago

Solved it.

- 7 minutes ago

Great! Did you post a solution?

- 3 minutes ago

No. I don't want to yet. I'm posting a solution for my own problem.

- 25 seconds ago

@Ved Pradhan, @Vinayak Srivastava, @Kriti Kamal, @Lam King Fung NEW ANNOUNCEMENT IN GIANT LETTERS, CHECK IT :)

- 41 minutes ago

Username: Márton Páll (if not allowed a instead of á) Nickname: palmarbg (this is my school code :) )

Don't you request an email address? :)
And one other question: What does $\LaTeX$ solution mean? The text should be in \text{} too?

- 1 day, 4 hours ago

You can use Latex to make your solution more pleasing, so it isn't compulsory to use everything as latex, just enough to make it the most pleasing and beautiful yet understandable.

- 1 day, 3 hours ago

Username & Nickname both : Zakir Husain

- 1 day, 3 hours ago

- 1 day, 3 hours ago

Nickname: [ERROR]

- 17 hours ago

Awesome, welcome to mathathon!

- 17 hours ago

@Percy Jackson I understand it will be on this Monday, however, could you announce the time it will take place.

- 15 hours ago

- 14 hours ago

There is a channle on YouTube called 'Random Learning Palace' have you tried??

- 14 hours ago

I'm just 10th pass. But I want to try. Username & Nickname: Anshik Kumar Tiwari

- 14 hours ago

- 13 hours ago

Username: Félix Pérez Haoñie Nickname: Learner

@Vinayak Srivastava, @Kriti Kamal, @Ved Pradhan, @Lam King Fung - I have posted the sample question everyone, please solve it and post solutions, but remember, this doesn't affect your points, its like a warmup. Sample Question

- 7 hours ago

- 6 hours ago

- 6 hours ago

Username: Rebecca Lee Nickname: Math whiz

- 5 hours ago

Just Kidding, you're in the Leader Board, Math whiz!

- 5 hours ago

- 5 hours ago

We got a tough competent with you sir!

- 5 hours ago

You've got a tough competition with 40+ participants @Aryan Sanghi!

- 5 hours ago

This is the whole question link :)

- 4 hours ago

- 4 hours ago

- 59 minutes ago

- 33 minutes ago

@Anonymous Ninja - Hi Magnus , I'm Percy

- 30 minutes ago

- 1 day, 4 hours ago

Awesome, second contestant!

- 1 day, 4 hours ago

Username: Yajat Shamji Nickname: AlgebraWhiz$15$@UK

- 1 day, 2 hours ago

Username : Diodoro Siculo Nickname : Longo Sofista

- 1 day, 2 hours ago

- 1 day, 2 hours ago

@Percy Jackson, count me in!

@Hamza Anushath is my name!

Nickname: $The$ $cute$ $devil$

- 1 day, 1 hour ago

@Percy Jackson,I also want to participate.My name kriti kamal. Nickname-I'm a fool

- 1 day, 1 hour ago

Funny nickname, but done!

- 1 day, 1 hour ago

Competitions - Slap from my crush(What is this, saw it in your profiel)

- 1 day, 1 hour ago

Yes,it is true it is my only reward.My crush has beaten me infront of class :-P

- 1 day, 1 hour ago

Well, none of that in this contest please.

- 1 day ago

Stay to the topic of math

- 1 day ago

Ya,:-)

- 1 day ago

User name : Harry Potter Potter Nick name: Count me in

- 1 day, 1 hour ago

Thank god, you finally came.

- 1 day, 1 hour ago

👍👍

- 19 hours ago

I posted the name and topic of Monday's Problem

- 19 hours ago

😂

- 18 hours ago

Also, for last submissions,

Midnight of $5$th July equals $6$th July $00:00$

Take $1$ minute off?...

- 1 day, 1 hour ago

yes, $11:59$

- 1 day, 1 hour ago

Can you edit the last submissions time to $11:59$?

- 1 day, 1 hour ago

yes, i can , and i did

- 1 day, 1 hour ago

Once we reach $25$ contestants, there will be a spoiler(teensy, tiny spoiler)about Monday's question.

- 1 day, 1 hour ago

LaTeX, please! (Just enforcing LaTeX where I don't see it - I am like the LaTeX warden...)

- 1 day, 1 hour ago

Where should i put $\LaTeX{}$

- 1 day, 1 hour ago

The $25$ and the $11$.

I should wrap my $15$.

@Aryan Sanghi should LaTeX his $789$

- 1 day, 1 hour ago

ok, ill latex my numbers

- 1 day, 1 hour ago

Yajat, it's my nickname, not some numbers. Latex is not meant to be used everywhere, it's a waste of time then.

- 21 hours ago

Well, don't do it if you don't want to but do you think I am a LaTeX warden? @Aryan Sanghi

- 21 hours ago

Yes, I guess even better than Chew Wrong Cheong sir. :)

- 21 hours ago

Jeez! Do you think BRILLIANT will even put that up as a community job?

- 21 hours ago

No, I don't think so. It has to invest then. Also, there is always someone available to post a Latex solution like me, Mahdi, Siddharth, Vinayak and ....

- 21 hours ago

Hm. You're right.

- 21 hours ago

Also, your $11:59$

- 1 day, 1 hour ago

Third and finally, the numbers on your note text.

- 1 day, 1 hour ago

Anything else? How's the latex?

- 1 day, 1 hour ago

You need to do the $3$'s and the $2020$ in the note text.

And @Aryan Sanghi needs to LaTeX his $789$.

Otherwise, almost done!

- 1 day, 1 hour ago

And you forgot the $11:59$ in the submission time comment.

- 1 day ago

I'm too tired

- 1 day ago

Username: sneha nickname: jattyg how long is the competition?

- 1 day, 1 hour ago

probably till end of july

- 1 day, 1 hour ago

- 1 day, 1 hour ago

Are you happy Yajat? All $\LaTeX{}$ done.

- 1 day ago

Nearly. The $11:59$ in the submission comments.

And, @Aryan Sanghi, can you please LaTeX wrap your $789$?

- 1 day ago

Fine.........

Clearly annoyed and tired

- 1 day ago

Now???? My work is done, only Aryan Sanghi has to so it now.

- 1 day ago

Yes, you're done.

@Aryan Sanghi, for the last time, can you please LaTeX wrap your $789$?

- 1 day ago

Thank the gods!

- 1 day ago

Ok. If there's any more, I'll tell you tomorrow.

- 1 day ago

Ohh Noo LOL

- 1 day ago

Don't worry - not tomorrow - that was a joke.

Maybe on the weekend (to make your Mathathon look smart, presentable and fancy)...

- 1 day ago

Thanks, I was kidding too, whenever you think something's not good enough feel free to point it out.

- 1 day ago

My class was going on. How could you expect me to see your reply?

- 21 hours ago

Whoops! Well, I thought leaving it there until you could reply.

- 21 hours ago

Username : Sonu Sharma Nickname : SN Sam

- 23 hours ago

Say hello to the leaderboard, you're in!

- 23 hours ago

- 21 hours ago

@Percy Jackson I think you should remove upvote criteria as there is a fake account with many people (don't take it personally everyone). Also, it's not a real and useful criteria, isn't it? You are there to judge the solutions. Just a suggestion. :)

- 21 hours ago

Of course @Aryan Sanghi, I will give it a thought, until then the rule shall stay

- 20 hours ago

Actually, my thought behind it was, I will be creating the questions, so I'll know their answers, judging solutions should be up to someone who actually finds it helpful, because he/she doesn't know the answer. Downvotes don't count, and you are all allowed to give a note in your solutions, asking for upvotes if someone found it helpful, but I would suggest focusing on your solutions, the upvotes will automatically come.

- 20 hours ago

You are thinking ideal. Consider real. :) Anyway, it's your contest, so your rules.

- 20 hours ago

Ideal thought is always of opposite of real one

- 3 hours ago

Username: Lam Luong Nickname: Mr. Random

- 21 hours ago

Username: Mahdi Raza, Nickname: Mathy Mahdi

- 21 hours ago

- 21 hours ago

Thanks!!

- 20 hours ago

I'm subbed too, love your channel, notify me when it hits 1K subs(I'm guessing pretty soon).

- 20 hours ago

Thanks! Not so soon, it takes time. But hey, thanks for the encouragement :)

- 20 hours ago

Hey u have a channel, I'm gonna subscribe it.

- 13 hours ago

Username: Lam King Fung Nickname: KevinL

- 21 hours ago

Nickname: Deva Ishvara

Sincere congratulations on your initiative. I expect greater things will follow.

A note about my preferences: de-emphasize or even eliminate an arbitrary speed consideration. Emphasize and intentionally create space/time for creative and well-constructed work. As designed, these type of events pander to teenage male norms, which tend to be dysfunctional, at this time, unfortunately.

LaTeX is simply a text formatting app. Why are there considerations for using this app? Well constructed responses should be placed on equal footing.

Up votes is so ... Facebook. Although this is easy to implement, without additional constraints, this does not promote high quality, well constructed responses. Considering alliances is a distraction and not a support.

Single judge? I smell drama ...

I suppose if I felt strongly about these things then I should create my own contest. This is your contest, so Best Wishes! Is there money involved after I win? I would appreciate a Happy Meal, or even a donut.

Stay safe.

- 20 hours ago

@David Hairston, I was thinking of making my own contest too...

- 20 hours ago

That's funny ... better hurry. Soon, I expect there will be 25 contests and no time to participate in most of them.

Stay safe.

- 20 hours ago

- 20 hours ago

You Hindu?

- 20 hours ago

Namaste.

I am not Hindu but I I appreciate Hindu culture (as reflected in my nickname).

- 20 hours ago

Ok. I'm Hindu.

- 20 hours ago

The prize is awesome, its the satisfaction of winning a contest, knowing that you helped a lot of people while you were at it.

You can trust me to choose the best contestant and I am not into it for the drama.

I would suggest use of LaTeX as it makes your solution more pleasing and interesting to go through, I would rather read a LaTeX solution than a normal one.

Time is assigned as I have to evaluate the solutions and I have to keep more focus on my studies. Also, similiar solutions appear after some time and this repetition causes few of the solutions to get ignored.

I hope you understand!

- 20 hours ago

I still would prefer a donut ...

Will the contestants be able to submit images or animations?

- 20 hours ago

Yes, Of course images and animations are allowed, and i can give you a donut right now -

- 20 hours ago

Nice joke!

- 20 hours ago

LOL, Thanks

- 20 hours ago

So if you allow images then you could also consider answers formatted without using LaTeX.

I'm intrigued and encouraged. How do you insert images in comments?

{weather forecast: rain in 20 minutes}

- 20 hours ago

What i do is, I go to Daily challenges, look for an answer that i got right(very hard as most are wrong), click that picture icon in the solutions, select the pic from files, and then copy/paste. Simple!!

- 20 hours ago

What I do is create a note, and smash the upload image button. Then I copy the link/text

It will be more easier @Percy Jackson @David Hairston

- 19 hours ago

it would be much easier to just type ! [ ] ( link ) and put the link of your image in place of link.(No spaces there, though)

- 19 hours ago

Almost there, thanks.

- 19 hours ago

link means this - download the pic, then drag it from whatever file, into your browser search bar, click enter and then a link will appear in the search bar, that's the link you want

- 19 hours ago

I would be looking forward to participate in contests made by you guys!

- 20 hours ago

I support constructive criticism, please do tell me if you feel that anything is wrong.

- 19 hours ago

- 20 hours ago

Username Emma Watson . Nickname: Mysterio

- 20 hours ago

You're in Mysterio! :)

- 20 hours ago

... not Black Widow?

- 20 hours ago

Uhhhh...I didn't know Mysterio was a name of a super villain! I just heard it some where ,and thought it was good. I thought it was referring to a mysterious person or something 😓. Well now I can't change it......🙁(I wish I can)

- 19 hours ago

Actually, you can change it, if you want, until the contest begins.

- 19 hours ago

Yes please!!!!! I want it to be "BlueWolf." (I got nothing else)

- 19 hours ago

- 19 hours ago

Done, though I don't know why you chose BlueWolf, I thought you'll go for something a bit more, Harry Potter-y...........

- 19 hours ago

I couldn't think of anything else out of all names I could have picked , I thought of BlueWolf Don't know why.....well whatever 😑 I also asked'Count me in' of what she thought of the name. She said it was fine.😐

- 18 hours ago

I think she chose Bluewolf because she is Harry potter's fan. Remember Warewolf, Remus Lupin.

- 13 hours ago

You could try $\text{Hermione}$ if you meant Emma Watson as your actor of Harry Potter...

and not some other movie...

- 19 hours ago

Yes, she meant Harry Potter, she's a HP Fangirl, like @Harry Potter Potter.

- 19 hours ago

That's actually nice ,but what's done is done.i can't change it again and again.By the way it's not all that bad(my new nickname: BlueWolf)😅

- 18 hours ago

Mysterio does suck as a supervillain though.........LOL

- 19 hours ago

Everyone, I know that I said I'd give a sneak-peek after 25 contestants, and we've hit 25 contestants I know that most of you guys are eager - @Yajat Shamji, So Here's some info on the question -

$Name \ - \ Submerged \ Balls, \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ Topic \ - \ Volume$

That's it no more peeking, you'll have to wait!!!!!!

- 19 hours ago

- 19 hours ago

- 19 hours ago

Thanks

- 19 hours ago

- 19 hours ago

- 19 hours ago

Thanks!

- 19 hours ago

Username: Shriniketan Ruppa Nick name: Smart Bucket

- 19 hours ago

You're in Mr.Bucket :)

- 19 hours ago

User Name: Joe Bratt, Nickname: papajoe

- 19 hours ago

Username : Keshav Raj Nickname : Loser

- 19 hours ago

@KESHAV RAJ - If you meant Loser then your spelling's wrong.

- 19 hours ago

Thanks! ✔️

- 18 hours ago

- 18 hours ago

Nickname: Ree Manin Tegral

[EDIT] Why am I getting spammed with so many notifications?

- 18 hours ago

Simply unsubscribe if you don't want notifications

- 18 hours ago

I wouldn't. You never know if something is important!

- 18 hours ago

@Aarav Dave : Yes, that's what I'm doing. I don't want to miss anything!

- 17 hours ago

- 17 hours ago

@Ved Pradhan, you can unsubscribe from the comments, just tell me that you're doing it, that way, I can @mention you when its an important announcement :)

- 18 hours ago

@Percy Jackson, did you see the new edits in my note of $\LaTeX$

- 17 hours ago

- 17 hours ago

@Percy Jackson, I am also getting a lot of notifications, so I am unsubscribing, please mention me if there is some important announcement. Thanks!

- 17 hours ago

Sure, there's one right now.

- 17 hours ago

@Percy Jackson : Okay, I'm also unsubscribing, so please mention me if there's anything important. Thanks!

- 17 hours ago

Ok,i will remember it.

- 17 hours ago

Hi, @Percy Jackson, i'm unsubscribing for now, please mention me for important information. Thanks!

- 16 hours ago

- 18 hours ago

Great idea! I am joining. Username: Aarav Dave Nickname: A11

- 18 hours ago

No I am changing my nickname to Mathathon.

- 18 hours ago

Okay Aarav

- 18 hours ago

- 7 hours ago

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