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I'm pretty sure a computer could be used to solve most International Mathematical Olympiad problems quicker and more reliably. Its not an argument that computer

I'm pretty sure a computer could be used to solve most International Mathematical Olympiad problems quicker and more reliably. Its not an argument that computers are better at creating the theory that is used to solve the problems. In essence, I'm saying the International Mathematical Olympiad is not a competition about forming or proving theorems. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the competition essentially determining who makes a better computer? I'm arguing the utility of such skills is limited by the existence of computers. Although I admit formulating and modeling problems would be a useful skill set not easily replicated by a computer, I'm not sure this is what most testing regimes actually test for.

tokenadult 12y ago
I'm saying the International Mathematical Olympiad is not a competition about forming or proving theorems. This statement shows you have utterly no familiarity with the content of most International Mathematical Olympiad problems, which are typically posed as open-ended problems for which the contestants must provide written solutions with proof. Correct me if I'm wrong This is one of the rare cases where I can recommend a Wikipedia article for more reading on the topic. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Mathematical_Olympiad https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Mathematical_Oly...
- esbranson 12y ago
  Your petty insult is matched only by your willful ignorance of and refusal to address the substance of my argument: > I'm pretty sure a computer could be used to solve most International Mathematical Olympiad problems quicker and more reliably. Case in point: http://www.imo-official.org/problems/IMO2010SL.pdf http://www.imo-official.org/problems/IMO2010SL.pdf > A1. Determine all functions f : R -> R such that the equality f([x]y) = f(x)[f(y)] holds for all x,y in R. Here, by [x] we denote the greatest integer not exceeding x. Can Mathematica or another computer program solve that? I am betting it can. And very quickly. And I also reject that such a problem is open ended. The most that the Wikipedia article speaks on the topic related to the above mentioned partial quote is > extensive knowledge of theorems Which does not mention actually proving any theorems. Although I may misunderstand the difference between proving a theorem and proving a solution to a given problem. I await your lack of substantive response.
  - tokenadult 12y ago
    Perhaps it suffices to say that persons who know the item content of the IMO contests intimately are very happy to hire (or recruit as students) young people who have demonstrated ability to solve the contest problems. They don't think they are gaining access to people who can be replaced by a computer program.

tokenadult 12y ago

I'm saying the International Mathematical Olympiad is not a competition about forming or proving theorems. This statement shows you have utterly no familiarity with the content of most International Mathematical Olympiad problems, which are typically posed as open-ended problems for which the contestants must provide written solutions with proof. Correct me if I'm wrong This is one of the rare cases where I can recommend a Wikipedia article for more reading on the topic. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Mathematical_Olympiad https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Mathematical_Oly...

esbranson 12y ago
Your petty insult is matched only by your willful ignorance of and refusal to address the substance of my argument: > I'm pretty sure a computer could be used to solve most International Mathematical Olympiad problems quicker and more reliably. Case in point: http://www.imo-official.org/problems/IMO2010SL.pdf http://www.imo-official.org/problems/IMO2010SL.pdf > A1. Determine all functions f : R -> R such that the equality f([x]y) = f(x)[f(y)] holds for all x,y in R. Here, by [x] we denote the greatest integer not exceeding x. Can Mathematica or another computer program solve that? I am betting it can. And very quickly. And I also reject that such a problem is open ended. The most that the Wikipedia article speaks on the topic related to the above mentioned partial quote is > extensive knowledge of theorems Which does not mention actually proving any theorems. Although I may misunderstand the difference between proving a theorem and proving a solution to a given problem. I await your lack of substantive response.
- tokenadult 12y ago
  Perhaps it suffices to say that persons who know the item content of the IMO contests intimately are very happy to hire (or recruit as students) young people who have demonstrated ability to solve the contest problems. They don't think they are gaining access to people who can be replaced by a computer program.