Mindeveloped's blog

What can you do when you have much time left in a contest but have nothing to do?
By Mindeveloped, history, 2 years ago, In English

When I participate Div.2 contests, I always solve the easy problems(such as A, B or C) quickly, but then I can't even move on other problems. What should I do in that case?

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2 years ago, # |
← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it -105 Vote: I do not like it

Have you considered sucide?(Just a joke please don't take it seriously)

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2 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +19 Vote: I do not like it

Best advice:- Shake well and sleep :)

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2 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +4 Vote: I do not like it

You can try learning algorithms/techniques which generally come in D and think for remaining time instead of wasting it

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2 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it -8 Vote: I do not like it

masturbate

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    2 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +54 Vote: I do not like it

    1 month after following his advice:

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    2 years ago, # ^ |
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    I highly doubt if that's even an option to consider during an on going contest? Probably it can cause more harm to us than good as it is a distraction tbh.

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      2 years ago, # ^ |
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      "cause more harm" whatttt tf?? have some life dude

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2 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +42 Vote: I do not like it

for me i'll go to sleep because it's midnight in China :)

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2 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +53 Vote: I do not like it

Stop doing cp, enjoy your life, find a girlfriend.

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    2 years ago, # ^ |
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    ig solving next problems in contest would be more easier than that

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    2 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +6 Vote: I do not like it

    so have you found a girlfriend?

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      2 years ago, # ^ |
        Vote: I like it +12 Vote: I do not like it

      I'll explain.

      First, I'm still doing cp, as you can see.
      Second, I'm not enjoying my life recently.
      So, the only thing I could've done is the third one.

      Man I'm logic xD

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        2 years ago, # ^ |
        ← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +5 Vote: I do not like it

        Does that mean you have found a girlfriend? I haven't found one yet :(

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2 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +8 Vote: I do not like it

Just think about D until the contest is over or try to hack someone

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2 years ago, # |
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anime:)

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2 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +2 Vote: I do not like it

go touch some grass.

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2 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +19 Vote: I do not like it

Refresh the page infinite times to see how my friends crush is performing.

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    2 years ago, # ^ |
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    Your crush is doing cp that's cool :D

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      2 years ago, # ^ |
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      She has not participated for quite some time now. T_T

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2 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

Lock the solved problems and check if there is a submission of those problems that can be hacked.

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2 years ago, # |
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I have exactly the opposite problem: contests tend to end much faster than I run out of ideas.

It's possible that you can't solve the remaining difficult problems during a contest because you are even not seriously trying to do this. And I know that it's tempting to give up in a situation when you solved A and B, but only have 15 minutes left for C. In such situations I don't give up, but keep solving the problem in the remaining time and don't stop even after the end of the contest. This is known as "upsolving". Sometimes not giving up results in successful last minute submissions.

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2 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +5 Vote: I do not like it

Push your head to its limit, then let the frustraited be your new motivation and use that to learn to solve that problem when the editorial is out.

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2 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +31 Vote: I do not like it

Learn how to use binary search.

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2 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

Go to bed.

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2 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

Thanks for all your advice!!!

In China, we often study some complicated(at least for me) algorithms and data structures.(e.g. Durable segment tree with finalized lazy) But then I found out that the Codeforces problems require a lot of thinking instead of learning a lot of techniques. So when I found that I can't solve a problem, I tend not to think that I'm in lack of a technique. Instead, I continue to think that problem(and that really helps!).

In daily training, I try not to ever take the editorial before I solve a problem unless the teacher tells us to do so. I think that will help with my situation a lot.

Finally, binary search is really frequent in Codeforces problems!

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    2 years ago, # ^ |
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    Actually, the advanced data structures are not that helpful to reach expert or cm. STL, BIT and simple segtree is enough.

    Practicing is important though, as you can quickly think of the algo/ds used to solve the problem.

    (btw, we're the same age lol)

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7 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +1 Vote: I do not like it
  • analyze small cases
  • write a brute force solution and look for a pattern
  • try restructuring some formula
  • "guess" the solution
  • go for hacks on problems you already solved
  • give up and go do something else (it doesn't matter anyway)

it really doesn't matter that much, but if you want to reach your full potential you shouldn't do nothing, ever

this question is crazy to me because when faced with a hard problem for me I feel there is so much to think about I'm overwhelmed, it's like I don't know which path to consider because I have so many ideas for how one might try approaching the problem

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