#eucledian

[i-rationality]

Mathematical Olympiad Journey

- Phase 2

As always I would really appreciate some advice!!

As some of you may know, I passed to the second phase of my country’s mathematical olympiad and have a little under a month to prepare. This series is going to describe that preparation and hopefully help those who want to participate too.

18/12/2021

Before starting the conventional preparation, of strengthening my theory and blind sponts, and doing and correcting past exams, I’m going to review my first phase notes and re-check some youtube videos and websites, to see what other people advise for preparation.

19/12/2021

Did some exercises on topics I didn’t get a very good grasp, namely diophantine equations. For those equations, I advise the following simple exercises :

https://math.ryerson.ca/~abonato/Teaching/AM8002/Worked_LDE.pdf

They are really simple and the steps are explained in the following solutions, doubts are easily googled.

20/12/2021

Did a previous exam that was pretty heavy on combinatorics, noticed I need to perfect my knowledge in that area. Also managed time pretty well but was too impulsive at the start, I should think my strategy through before starting to solve an exercise.

The fun and joy problem solving brings was there so, overall, I’m pretty happy!! 

22/12/2021 - 12:12 a.m

Currently correcting my previous exam and identifying my weaknesses as I go. One I noticed, that maybe most look over, is the fact that a lot of exercises, specially after the first phase start combining topics. Algebra tends to be pretty universal but a combination of combinatorics and number theory may occur.

23/12/2021

Problems in combinatorics/Nr Theory: Not converting problem to a mathematical expression right away, need to be more precised and focused. Think things through

Problems in Geometry: Not knowing/ feeling comfortable enough with the topic. Interpretation

24-27/12/2021

Got sick on christmas eve, did 2 to 3 past exams since then but time management was shit (obviously, really didn’t have the energy to try hard). Made a plan to correct exercices to list what I did incorrectly (identify flaws in logic), what I didn’t manage to do (to try again before looking at the answer sheet) and topics I felt weak or uncertain about (to reinforce with exercices that aren’t part of past exams).

Wishing you all happy holidays and a good new year! <3

[trix-the-artemis]

Scientists want to ignore the fact that the earth could very well be flat.

note, I'm not a flat earth believer despite what the click bait title says, I just realised that everyone who is a flat earth believer is illiterate and was curious about if I could do a better job at the flat earth.

The core of the globe earth model is the assumption that space-time is euclidean; but it doesn't have to be and all studies conducted trying to prove it have only heavily implied the universe is euclidean. But what if it wasn't? Then it's entirely possible to have a flat plane with the properties of a sphere; elliptical space has this property but we don't live in one of those due to use observing properties of space (mainly other planets exist) which show we don't.

So, are flat earth believers justifiable in their madness, no. Although possible we have insufficient evidence to make any claim that we live in a non-euclidean world so its crazy to jump to bold claims.