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So they weren't able to solve the combinatorics problem. I'm not super well versed in competition math, but combinatorics always seem to be the most interesting
by osti 2y ago
So they weren't able to solve the combinatorics problem. I'm not super well versed in competition math, but combinatorics always seem to be the most interesting problems to me.
- sigbottle 2y agoI mean, IMO algebra problems can require very clever insights as well, and number theory especially has some really nice proof arguments you can make. It's easier to make a bad problem of this category though because it's much easier to hide the difficulty in a bunch of computations / rote deduction, and not creative insights. Combinatorics problems are usually simple enough that anyone can understand and try tackling it though, and the solutions in IMO are usually designed to be elegant. I don't think I've ever seen a bad combo problem before.
- osti 2y agoOh I'm sure the other topics all do have interesting problems, but I don't have the background necessary to even tackle them. Your second paragraph conveyed exactly how I feel about combinatorics. Elegant and clever, on top of being understandable to even non math people.