shishyando's blog

Codeforces Round #671
By shishyando, history, 4 years ago, translation, In English

Hello, Codeforces!

Artyom123, Kotehok3 and I are happy to invite you to Codeforces Round 671 (Div. 2), which will be held on Sep/19/2020 17:35 (Moscow time). This round will be rated for all participants, whose rating is lower than 2100 (We really hope so).

We would like to thank:

You will be given 6 problems and 2 hours to solve them (or to play Valorant, because the contest is related to it for some reason). One problem has an easy version and a hard version.

You will have to help the agents from the game to grind that rating. Try your best as if you are playing ranked and they are your teammates!

gl hf

Here is the score distribution:

500 — 750 — 1250 — (750 + 1000) — 2250 — 3000

UPD: Editorial

  • Vote: I like it
  • +367
  • Vote: I do not like it

Comments Comments (345)
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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

I hope that statements are short with strong pretests.

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

"This round will be rated for all participants, whose rating is lower than 2100 (We really hope so)."

:(

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it -81 Vote: I do not like it

    He tries to tell that if it get unrated like the previous round then no rating change

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4 years ago, # |
← Rev. 4   Vote: I like it -42 Vote: I do not like it

You must remember — peaker has an advantage!

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +52 Vote: I do not like it

The first 6 problem round in such a long time!

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4 years ago, # |
← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +79 Vote: I do not like it

That day will be my birthday, I hope i can do well on that contest and make the day more memorable...

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

I hope that Dindic`s algorithm will be in the round

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4 years ago, # |
← Rev. 5   Vote: I like it +31 Vote: I do not like it

Tired of posts about short statements and strong pretests

So what if statements are long? So what if pretests are weak? Everybody is in equal position and competitive spirit does not waver. For all I care you can remove all pretests and I will gladly participate anyways.

What I really need is short queues and strong/correct checkers. And if I can ask for more, then give me an appropriate editorial

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +40 Vote: I do not like it

    Removing pretests will definately make queues shorter! :D (Ofcourse we won't do that)

    As for the tutorial, we will try our best to make it as understandable as possible.

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

    some old Codeforces problems have weak pretest causing high amount of hack which cause some lucky people can get free 1500 point by spamming "0" zero in his room

    https://mirror.codeforces.com/blog/entry/59431#comment-430573

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
        Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

      I always forget that people get some score for hacks... Yeah, it does sound bad

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +15 Vote: I do not like it

    So what if pretests are weak? Everybody is in equal position

    I really disagree with this. Yes, everybody gets the same pretests. However, people are hurt differently. Some people (me for example) rely on strong pretests for problems like A and B. These problems usually have multitests and generating strong pretests isn't that hard. Others are careful and don't trust the Pretests Passed verdict. They will still check their code for logical/implementational errors and corner cases. Clearly, strong/weak pretests makes a huge difference for these two types of people.

    Removing pretests will definately make queues shorter! :D (Ofcourse we won't do that)

    shishyando this seems like exactly what you did. 1 pretest for A (not including samples) and around 70 systests for A (causing such a long queue that systests still hasn't finished). I FSTed A, and I didn't want to wait for all the systests to finish so I decided to stress test myself (by copying an AC submission). Turns out that my program messed up the parity of each position when n is even. However, to my disappointment, such a submission (surprisingly) passes all the pretests. I am interested as to why the for pretests for A are so weak. An easy solution would be allowing 1000 tests and have the first 100 be max cases (to check for tle) and the rest be randomly generated binary strings of length from 1 — 10. Another option is to just generate all binary strings of lengths 1 — 9, in addition to max cases. Both seem really easy to implement and I'm curious why you didn't do so.

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
        Vote: I like it -17 Vote: I do not like it

      I had to make a single pretest in A (except the sample) to avoid long queues. The pretests were made randomly, and I thought that it was strong enough. We didn't find any problems with A's tests during the testing phase.

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

        Even with 1 single pretest in A, you can still easily make strong pretests. Allow there to be 1000 cases, guarantee that the sum of n doesn't exceed 2e5, and make each case small to better account for various corner cases. The issue with problems like A is that special cases only appear when there are no even/odd numbers in all even/odd positions. Thus, randomly generated large tests are very bad at "hacking" solutions. Also, shishyando what is the thinking behind having 70 systests for each problem? This is the slowest systest I've ever seen and it seems that a lot of the tests are unecessary.

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

      I would've argued that I'm don't mind exchanging strong pretests for more algorithmic questions, but it seems there is not much to exchange.

      I understand not wanting to waste time on A&B. I myself managed to pass pretests with an incorrect checker for that very reason ^_^

      Of course it would be a different game without pretests, but I would play it anyway. People would work on their solutions more rigorously and really try to prove it before submitting

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

        What I'm trying to say is that weak pretests affects everyone differently, not that

        Everybody is in equal position

        as you've suggested.

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

    I did not care about weather the statements were long but the pretests on C should have been stronger. I failed it on test 61. Also from what the test case constraints were clarifying the ratings of an individual could only be in the range [-4000,4000] to which I based my solution on and that is why it did not pass. You would tell me "well why did you not ask for a clarification" well the answer is because my submission passed all the pretests thus I imagined that that was the solution.

    I have no problem with the problem statements being long. 0 problem. But the pretests must be strong.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

VALORANT!!!!!!

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +49 Vote: I do not like it

Clashes with ioi (

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +11 Vote: I do not like it

Gamers joining Codeforces because of Valorant .

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

Normal Div 2 Rounds: Score distribution will be announced shortly before the round. Div 2 Round 671: Here is the score distribution Meanwhile other testers: Are we joke to you?

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +47 Vote: I do not like it

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +48 Vote: I do not like it

As a tester I recommend you to read all the problems.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +10 Vote: I do not like it

Thank you problem setters and testers for taking the pain to arrange the contest.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +27 Vote: I do not like it

I can assure you. ;-)

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4 years ago, # |
← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

One other thing I couldn't care less about is the score distribution. Seriously, why people always talk about it?

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +13 Vote: I do not like it

    The score distribution tells you roughly how hard the problems are so you can plan your strategy in advance. For example, if you have solved A and B and are stuck at C, you can try working on D1 because it should be easier (at least to the testers) compared to C.

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

      Ok, but except for compound problems, there should never be later problems with lower difficulty rating. It contradicts the very idea of sorting problems by difficulty and most rounds don't even involve compound problems

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

        Conflict in opinion is common to happen. Maybe, according to the problem setters, some problem is harder, but when the testing round occurs, sometimes that problem is found to be easier to the testers.
        That's the significance of the scoring distribution. It maps to approximate difficulties of the problem to help the contestants. :)

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          4 years ago, # ^ |
            Vote: I like it +1 Vote: I do not like it

          I just don't see how it can help. If you want to know approximate difficulty, you just look at the number of solutions.

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

    I use it to determine if I'm participating in codeforces or speedforces.

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
        Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

      Again, during the contest you have much more reliable source of information about difficulty — number of successful solutions

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        4 years ago, # ^ |
          Vote: I like it +7 Vote: I do not like it

        got adhocforces instead

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          4 years ago, # ^ |
          ← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

          For me it was readingforces. I had to read C again and again until enlightenment

          Btw the contest was a good example of lying score distribution.

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            4 years ago, # ^ |
            ← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

            Click That's why short and clear statements are always good.

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              4 years ago, # ^ |
                Vote: I like it +1 Vote: I do not like it

              It certainly affected my rating, but I don't think the round was bad because of that. It was for quite different reasons though.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it -7 Vote: I do not like it

Hoping to become expert in this contest.

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

" A problem has an easy version and a hard version. " This hasn't happened in a long time, I'm waiting.

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

    I guess It hasn't happened this time either. Looks like you'll have to wait more

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

Oh, score distribution is cool. Hope the problems will also cool and there'll be no issue with the problems like the last round.

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

A very unique and interesting rating graph shishyando xD

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +13 Vote: I do not like it

Hope Retired_cherry will change some problem in the last few minute, and some guy will solve it in 1 minute.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +85 Vote: I do not like it

As a tester, I can confirm that problem statements contain words.

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +90 Vote: I do not like it

    Please, no spoilers.

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

    As a participant, I can confirm that problem statements contains only words but not meaning :(

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

    weak pretest! really disappointed.

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

Wasn't scoring distribution supposed to updated only 5 hours or so before the contest?

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it -9 Vote: I do not like it

we want a contest that is related to pubg!!!

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

Why is the fourth one 750+1000 instead of 1750? Is that intentional?

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

    One problem has an easy version and a hard version.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it -20 Vote: I do not like it

CS:GO themed contest when? :p

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

Subtasks! After a really long time.

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

    but those subtasks were not really subtasks, it was a joke just change 1 line of code and hard version is solved

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

Super excited :D

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

When are we planning to have another Codeforces Round 657 (Div. 2) type of round, which was a nightmare more me. Also are we expecting more mathematical problems in this round?

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it -10 Vote: I do not like it

bol fy fca.

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4 years ago, # |
← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it -62 Vote: I do not like it

IPL starts today. Which team are you supporting today? #MIvsCSK

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +57 Vote: I do not like it

    Mumbai Indians

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it -9 Vote: I do not like it

    Super Kings

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

    It's your local game, no one outside India watches it, so please never post it here.

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
        Vote: I like it -42 Vote: I do not like it

      Are you sure that no one outside India watches it, if you doesn't watch it?

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

        Even if you post something like champion league or world cup. You will still get downvote because its not related to the blog. And not everyone interested with football

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
        Vote: I like it +28 Vote: I do not like it

      I agree this wasn't exactly the right place to post a pic about IPL, but yeah, IPL isn't limited to Indians only. Even you are most welcome to watch it, in case you don't have other engagements and are simply looking for something entertaining! :)

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

      Its wrong to put it in those words, even though he should not have posted it here

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

    IPL succ!

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

I'm looking forward to see "Score distribution is changed to * * * * * *

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +33 Vote: I do not like it

Sorry IPL, Not today.

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4 years ago, # |
← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it -26 Vote: I do not like it

(WhatsApp-Image-2020-09-19-at-6.00.00-PM.jpg)

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
    ← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +26 Vote: I do not like it

    IPL will last for atleast a month so are we expecting these type of memes in every contest? I hope not.

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

      Well, actually today was the first match amidst this lockdown and that also between two teams who meet in the finals many time. But yeah, this is not the right place for such memes

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it -17 Vote: I do not like it

The round is also clashing with Leetcode biweekly contest 35. Can there be possibly any change in contest time?

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +1 Vote: I do not like it

Who else is just waiting rn for contest to start?

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +16 Vote: I do not like it

    As an author, I`m waiting rn for the contest to start too.

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

      Great, I am sure its going to be fun and exciting :)

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

I think Gamers are joining Codeforces because of Valorant :P

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

This will be the first contest I have ever done. I hope all participants have fun and challenging problems to solve and learn.

I thank all of you; authors for your time and energy.

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

I hope will not be like the last contest, because it was disappointment.

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

    forget the past, lets live the present :D

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

as a tester you will enjoy this round

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

I'm not sure about problem statements, after they say about the "Valorant" part. Hope to have good statements. :3

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it -11 Vote: I do not like it

god damn it I fu**ed up in A and B it could've been way better

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

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

    Can you please tell me how to solve D2 and E? Thank You very much.

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

      $$$D2$$$

      $$$D2$$$ can be solved in the same way as $$$D1$$$ — just place $$$a_{n/2+1}$$$ ~ $$$a_n$$$ and $$$a_1$$$ ~ $$$a_{n/2}$$$ alternatively.

      $$$E$$$

      $$$E$$$ can be solved like this: If $$$n$$$ has a divisor which is square number $$$k^p (k,p>1)$$$ greater than $$$1$$$, find all divisor of $$$n$$$ (let's define these as $$$a_i$$$.) which is not the multiple of $$$k$$$, and order $$$a_i \times k^p, a_i, a_i \times k, a_i \times k^2 , \ldots a_i \times k^3$$$. Repeat this to get an answer, and the minimum number of moves is $$$0$$$.

      If $$$n$$$ has no such divisor, it means $$$n$$$ is equal to the product of $$$m$$$ ($$$2 \le m \le 9$$$) distinct prime numbers. And there will be $$$2^m-1$$$ divisor (except $$$1$$$), and we can consider those as combination of different prime factors — $$$b_i$$$ is multiple of $$$j_{th}$$$ prime factor of $$$n$$$ if $$$i \And (2^{j-1})$$$ is nonzero. Now we just need to rearrange the numbers from $$$1$$$ to $$$2^m-1$$$ so that the bitwise and values of all two adjacent enlements are nonzero. And for each number $$$i$$$, print $$$b_i$$$. The minimum number of moves is $$$1$$$ if $$$m = 2$$$, $$$0$$$ if $$$m \ge 3$$$. The rearrangement method can be found by considering the following sequence: $$$\left[1,3,2,0,6,4,5,7\right]$$$

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

Approach for C??

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

    First, check if the average distance from x for each element = 0. If it is, then the answer is 0 if all elements already equal x, else 1. Otherwise, if x is in a, then the answer is 1. Otherwise, answer is 2.

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +1 Vote: I do not like it

    you do it in atmost 2. the case for 0 is easy. 2 can be done by infecting (n — 1) elements while using the last one as offset and then infecting the last one while using any element as offset. The case for 1 was tricky and I did some guess work.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +25 Vote: I do not like it

This round is too unbalanced. In A — D you just need to figure out the idea, and don't have to know any algorithms, and around 3500 people solved all of them, but E is probably too hard for div2.

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
    ← Rev. 6   Vote: I like it +33 Vote: I do not like it

    For A-D, I agree with you but E is definitely not hard. It's basic number theory and observations(constructive algo).

    Hint for E : Just find prime factors of the number and try to put the product of then any two primes in between those 2 primes. Obviously, you need to handle some corner cases like prime square or number is product of only 2 primes.

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

      Well, the gap between D and E this time was surely overwhelming...

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        4 years ago, # ^ |
        ← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

        See, it is very difficult to make a balanced contest. Actually in D2, simple greedy algorithm worked(place the smallest (n/2) elements and then remaining in the gaps between them). That's why D2 had so many submissions. I think no one in the testing team thought that such algorithm would worked, else problem D would have been definitely replaced.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +43 Vote: I do not like it

This was basically speedforces

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4 years ago, # |
← Rev. 4   Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

Thanks for a "nice" B:)

I hope Codeforces employs some proof readers for the statements. The statements should be better.

Waste so much time in B that could not focus on C even when I kind of had the idea that max 2 answer is possible. Definitely my fault but the statements could have been better.

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

    can explain what is meant by nice stairs in the statement thanks for help

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
    ← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +9 Vote: I do not like it

    B.png Can you explain why stairs with n = 5 is not nice stairs? We can form 3 squares of size 2, and remaining of size 1

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

      In the shape 6 squares are used, but with n=5 (for 5 stairs) 5 squares should be used

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

      You should for only n squares

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
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      because we have to use n numbers of squares.

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

      The nice stairs can be covered by n disjoint squares made of cells, not n types of squares. There are 6 squares in your picture, not 5.

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        4 years ago, # ^ |
        ← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

        by mistake I downrated your comment, and now CF is not allowing me to change rating. sorry.

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

      thank you all for your replies. I'm really stupid

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
      ← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

      i don't see the right reply

      it was given in statement every cube should have one of it's corner as stair. orange cube doesn't have any corner as stair, thus not nice.

      Edit here is statement All squares should fully consist of cells of a staircase.

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

For problem C when can the answer be 1 ??

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

    When average of all arr[n] (arr[n] != x) == x

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    If all elements already sum to zero (after making sure that all elements are not equal to x) or if x is in a

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    when mean is x or there is at least one rating already equal to kjoll's rating

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    When the average of the elements is equal to x (fix each one so and make it x, the net rating change is 0), or when there is at least one other element equal to x (this on is already infected, so all rating changes will go to this one, and change all other values to x)

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

    it is 0 if everyone has rating x. Otherwise, it is 1 if either at least one other person has rating x or if the sum of the ratings of the n people is n*x. Otherwise, it is 2.

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    I knew that when sum equal to 0 then it will be 1.But why when x is present in a[] then also result is 1?

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
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      When x is present in A[], then what we can do is make all others as X and add up the rating changes and add it to A[i] where A[i]==X;

      for example 4 5 5 3 6 1

      5(-2+1-4) (3+2) (6-1) (1+4) are the rating changes and all are infected

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4 years ago, # |
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IS following approach correct for E!

find all factors then find all prime factors of it let all prime factor sequence be like a1<a2<a3. then first club all factors divisible by a1 together that is put them side by side then remaining factors divisible by a2 together then by a3 and so on I think then finding minimum answer required is easy!

Please correct me if I am wrong!

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    Brute force will TLE

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
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      I guarantee my complexity to be sqrt(n)*log(n) for each case and I think it will pass lets implement later on when sys tests pass!

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        4 years ago, # ^ |
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        Your approach will definitely get TLE

        sqrt(n)*2e5 not sqrt(n)*log(n)

        Do some paperwork you will understand how

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          4 years ago, # ^ |
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          WHy 2e5! Cant we store prime factors of that number in a vector rather than iterating overall primes again and again! I think you didn't get the idea completely! and just iterating over the prime factors and factors in a single go !. By the way correct approach is in comment below!

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            4 years ago, # ^ |
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            what you are doing now basically is sieve of 1e9

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

              The approach will not TLE.

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                4 years ago, # ^ |
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                It is possible that i am misunderstood and. thinking of a different thing than what you both are trying to say.

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                  4 years ago, # ^ |
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                  So here is what we do.

                  Given an input n, we find its prime factors in O(sqrt(n)) time.

                  Once this is done, we also find the divisors of n in O(sqrt(n)) time, and classify it in accordance with the smallest prime factor dividing it.

                  Then, we simply print these divisors in a nice fashion.

                  This algorithm takes time O(sqrt(n) + tau(n)). If we sum this across all test cases, we have an upper bound of

                  100*[sqrt(10^9) + (2*10^5)], which is good.

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                  4 years ago, # ^ |
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                  Nice explanation, thanks

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

    That is the idea I used. The first thing to note is that the answer is either 0 or 1, because gcd(lcm(a,b), lcm(b,c)) > 1 for a,b,c>1.

    Now, if n has only one prime factor then the problem is easy. Otherwise, suppose the prime factors of n are p_1, p_2, ..., p_k.

    Write n, then write all factors of n that are divisible by p_1, but keep p_1*p_2 for the end. Then, write all factors of n divisible by p_2 but not p_1, but keep p_2*p_3 for the end. Keep doing this.

    For example, if n = 60, we can do

    60,2,4,10,12,20,30,6,3,15,5

    where 60 is written first, followed by multiples of 2 with 2*3 = 6 written in the end, followed by multiples of 3 that are not multiples of 2 but keeping 3*5 = 15 in the end, followed by multiples of 5 that are not multiples of 2 and 3.

    The only case where an issue occurs is when n=p*q for distinct primes p,q.

    So the answer is 0 for n not of the form pq for distinct primes pq, and 1 otherwise.

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4 years ago, # |
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I don't understand why I fkd up D1 ;'(

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    what was your approach?

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
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      I thought of putting smaller numbers first in alternate places then the remaining in the places left in case reordering is required. like if n=6 and arr[]=1 2 3 4 5 6 so answer is 2 and order is 4 1 5 2 6 3 if n=5 and arr[]=1 2 3 4 5 so ans=2 and order is 3 1 4 2 5 I still couldn't find anycase giving maximum answer other than this.

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        4 years ago, # ^ |
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        I hope you printed a[i], and not i. That is what I did the first time :P

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    I just saw your sol; where did you sort the array?

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
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      I didn't sort , just printed alternatively straight away. Is this wrong?

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        4 years ago, # ^ |
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        Yeah, I don't get why that would give you the optimal solution.

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4 years ago, # |
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Enjoyed the problemset. Kept me challenged till the last minute. Thank you!

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

deleted

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    If you look closely a stair is valid only when the height of the longest staircase is 2^x - 1, x >= 1

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
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      how do you even prove it? forget that how to even verify it ? it is inhumane to expect us to draw 15 staircase

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        4 years ago, # ^ |
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        deleted

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        4 years ago, # ^ |
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        True that! Very inhuman of me!!!!

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        4 years ago, # ^ |
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        I did till 7. next in line had only two possibily 13 or 15 just tried the general terms of both the cases. They made me draw it :(

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        4 years ago, # ^ |
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        Adding a proof to (B):

        Proving that 2^x-1 works is obvious: note that there is a big 2^(x-1) times 2^(x-1) square with one corner on the lower right; use this, and now we are left with two smaller stairs of parameter 2^(x-1)-1.

        Now suppose n is not of the form 2^x-1 and n is nice. Note that the minimum number of squares needed to cover the stairs with parameter n is at least n, because no two of the top-most cells of the n steps can belong to the same square. Therefore, each square in the decomposition of this stair should cover one top-cell in some stair. Furthermore, note that the bottom right cell and a top-most cell of any step do not belong to a common square except if n is odd, in which case bottom-most cell and the top-most cell of the middle step can belong to the same square. But this square splits the stairs into two stairs of parameter (n-1)/2. Now induct, and we are done.

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          4 years ago, # ^ |
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          I really don't get it, can you please explain what is big ? " Moreover, if n is not of the form 2^x-1, then the bottom right cell and a top-most cell of any step do not belong to a common square. " did you mean bottom left cell and why should it be of the form 2^x -1 to fulfill that?

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          4 years ago, # ^ |
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          Okay, so each unit square is a cell. Each column is a stair. A square is a union of cells that makes a square shape, as shown in the problem.

          Consider a staircase with n steps. We want to partition the n*(n+1)/2 cells into squares. Let f(n) be the least number of squares required to do so. Consider the topmost cell of each stair; there are n of them . Note that no two of these topmost cells can belong to a common square. Therefore, the answer f(n) is at least n, for all n.

          Suppose the answer is exactly n. Then, the n squares that partition the staircase must cover the topmost cells of each stair; you cannot have a square that misses all topmost cells of all stairs, otherwise we will need > n squares.

          Now, consider the bottom right cell. The square that covers this must also cover the topmost cell of some stair. For even n, this is impossible. For odd n, this is possible only when you take a square that covers the topmost cell of the middle stair and the bottom right cell of the staircase. But upon taking this square, we are left with 2 staircases of sizes (n-1)/2 each. This means

          f(n) = n => f((n-1)/2) = n-1/2. Thus n is nice implies n is odd and (n-1)/2 is nice. From this, you can conclude that n is of the form 2^x-1 for some x.

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            4 years ago, # ^ |
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            Thanks but I don't get this
            " Now, consider the bottom right cell. The square that covers this must also cover the topmost cell of some stair " why so ?

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              4 years ago, # ^ |
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              Every square must cover some topmost cell of a stair. Also, no square can cover two different topmost cells.

              So if you want n squares to cover the staircase, it MUST be the case that EACH of the n squares in the decomposition of the staircase covers the topmost cell of some stair. Simply consider the one which also covers the bottom right cell.

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                4 years ago, # ^ |
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                Thanks for the wonderful explanation,got it now

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            4 years ago, # ^ |
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            this is elegant

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    u need to figure out the pattern of a nice stair.

    Spoiler
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4 years ago, # |
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4 years ago, # |
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B was more difficult than C +D combined for me, how do you even solve it?

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    same...

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    It took me time to realize "What is a nice stair?"

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
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      can you explain what is meant by nice stairs in the statement thanks for help

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        4 years ago, # ^ |
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        I can at least say that no even number can form a nice stair. I hope I'm right

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    may be observation(in my case) . pow(2,i)-1 is the key.

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    Pure Adhoc bud..

    The valid nice patterns are of sequence 1,3,7,15 .... (1 << n) — 1 for the general term. Just brute force out each value until u have the blocks left. Since the no of blocks required are sigma(n) a n nice staircase hence the values in this sequence grow exponentially. Just didnt like the set today :(

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    for me it was easy . basically what i did is tried every n from 1 to 11. i saw that the answers were 1 3 7 which is basically just multiply with 2 then increase by 1. so i just run a loop until x is small for the next 2 * i + 1.

    code
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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    Think like this:

    First you have a $$$1 X 1$$$ square only and it is the first nice stair.

    So, you have a nice stair of size $$$1$$$.

    Now, add a $$$2 X 2$$$ square at the bottom and a nice stair of size 1 at its left. Then you get the 2nd nice stair.

    So, you have a nice stair of size $$$3$$$.

    Now, add a $$$4 X 4$$$ square at the bottom and a nice stair of size 3 at its left, and you get the 3rd nice stair.

    So, you have a nice stair of size $$$7$$$.

    and so on...

    Notice that, at each step, the size of the nice stair is $$$2 \times previousSize + 1$$$.

    So, you get a $$$2^n - 1$$$ sized nice stair after n such iterations.

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
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      lol, I think you are just describing the diagram mentioned in the problem, how to prove that squares of 3X3 5X5 aren't important?

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    https://oeis.org/A006095

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4 years ago, # |
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only after system testing can you test right ?

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4 years ago, # |
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My brute force idea for E was working in 3 seconds for number of factors=700. Any idea to optimize it to pass under 1s TL or a more elegant solution?

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    I have a simple idea:

    Say we organize numbers(except N) in blocks of their spf, first number of each block is the prime, pi, followed by it's divisors where it is the spf, and the last number of each block is always pi*(pi+1), and for the number with no next block, we put N. We get answer as 0 here. And we only get 1 boundary case where a number is of the form p1*p2 where answer is always 1.

    PS : consider primes in increasing order of values

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
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      Cool idea, I did not try any such good construction(there are so many good constructions possible). Thanks!

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
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      I did exactly this, hard luck on implementation i guess :(

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4 years ago, # |
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How do the ratings change in this testcase for problem C?

2 3
3 4
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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    1 step only,

    change rating +1 for first guy and -1 for second guy.

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    We can change it to

    4 3 and the answer will be 1. Note that the first one is already affected , so we can change the rating of second and make it infected

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    As 3 is already infected we can use this to change 4,

    to change 4 to 3(x) we need -1 and to compensate we add 1 to 3(A[0]), rating change will be {1,-1} therefore we required only 1 step (Answer).

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4 years ago, # |
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wtf was b

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4 years ago, # |
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can any one why my solution for F is not working!? here is my submission it mean a lot if you find its bug : ) https://mirror.codeforces.com/contest/1419/submission/93269063

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4 years ago, # |
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Can anyone tell me why I was having TLE in problem D2 ?

My submission: https://mirror.codeforces.com/contest/1419/submission/93268164

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
    ← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +1 Vote: I do not like it

    You wrote i<=v1.size()-2, where v1.size() is size_t type(like unsigned int). If n = 1, v1.size()-2 is -1, but because it is unsigned type, (-1) % (unsigned mod) = (unsigned mod-1), which is very big(around 2e9). So you increase i by 1, while i < 2e9. This is TLE.

    P.S. To avoid this, you can simply write something like this: i + 2 <= v1.size()

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    check: 1 1

    v1.size() returns unsigned integer. hence v1.size()-2 becomes 4294967295.

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4 years ago, # |
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All the questions could be done in 4-5 lines. No data structure/ implementation knowledge was tested. There were essentially two pretests for B-D, you passed one if you got the idea, and failed the other (they made those specific cases where you would fail, like for C, count of x >=1 in the set will give contest max 1 ans, you would print 2).

My point is, having 1-2 questions like these don't hurt. But when all the questions feel like this, something's wrong. In a div2 contest, we need more of algorithm/ data structure based questions, not the puzzle types. And because of the puzzle nature, the difficulty order of the questions did not correspond to the number of solves. I would request the future problem setters to please take a note of this.

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    Quality of problems has been deteriorating rapidly here.

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
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      I was hoping one graph problem among C — E, but there was none, instead it was a puzzle game as OP said.

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4 years ago, # |
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D1 < A < B < C = D <<< E << F

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4 years ago, # |
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Took me so long to understand C right...

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    can explain what is meant by nice stairs in the statement thanks for help

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
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      Read the statement again. They have explained it pretty clear.

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4 years ago, # |
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I don't get how D1 and D2 were different. I barely made any changes to pass D2 after D1

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    Exactly lol. After B I solved D1 in 10 mins and since it was too easy i thought it wouldn't work for D2 and went to C. After C when I thought more about D2 I realized all i had to do was calculate answer seperately

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4 years ago, # |
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At first, I was surprised to see the submissions to problem D2 and C1 rising rapidly, this actually makes you panic when you have not solved the problem. But later I felt like someone fooled me. The problems were damn easy. Short statements strong pretests.

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4 years ago, # |
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I couldn't understand A and B's English.It seems that I need to study English, not algorithms ...

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4 years ago, # |
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Screenshot_20200729_205651_com.whatsapp2c900f4644ea10e17.jpg

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4 years ago, # |
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What Problem B actually say

i read it many times but cannot understand that

Can any one say me what they actually want

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4 years ago, # |
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can we solve B without searching on oeis. :)

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    Draw out the stair cases. I did till 7 (1,4,7 were only possible) so next in line would be 13 or 15 just check for both the cases which one matches

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    yes, look at how height of stairs is changing.

    starts with 1, and then height = (height * 2) + 1

    and they gave us the higher limit of this in sample. look at my submission for more help.

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    I did. My approach — First I observed the pattern, nice numbers are 1, 3, 7, 15 ..
    this is enough to come up with formula f(i) = 2*f(i — 1) + 1. Also, if you observe how nice stairs are made, if number x is nice then you need to combine two stairs of type x with a middle square of length (x + 1) resulting in a nice stair of length 2*x + 1. Rest is simple greedy approach.

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4 years ago, # |
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Wasted a lot of time in question B, Unable to get the Statement specially "n disjoint" but finally solved it.

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4 years ago, # |
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Problem $$$A$$$: Digit FST Games

Goodbye, master~

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    im feeling bad for ur C too.

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    Sorry, but what is FST? Some kind of error?

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
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      Answering to myself, it must be Failed System Testing...

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
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      Failed System Test

      Solutions which were wrong but passed the pretests, will (almost always) receive FST.

      If you get FST on a task, you'll lose all scores on it.

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        4 years ago, # ^ |
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        Yeah, I know. Couldn't figure out the abbreviation

        For some reason I thought it was something like

        Memory Limit Exceeded / Time Limit Exceeded and I search those among the error list

        Or

        StackOverflow / Integeroverflow

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    looks like we tried same shit for D2 at first attempt lol.

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

Problem C: 4 38 -21 83 50 -59 can anyone just EXPLAIN me how answer is 2?

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    See if a rating is infected then basically you don't care about it afterwards. So use it to make every other rating to infected.

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
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      suppose I make A[0] infected, then how he will infected others ??

      in the statement, they said all changed need to be 0. then I need to decrease/Increase the same amount of rating from another one.

      can you please explain to me how it's happening? how he will infect others if I infected only one.

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

        So A[0] is infected, now make all non-infected rating equal to A[0]. For this, you have to increase or decrease other ratings. Calculate the net change and subtract that value from A[0], that's all, other ratings are also infected. See we can do this because A[0] is already infected, and it is mentioned in the problem statement that once a rating is infected, it will remain infected forever, So we change A[0] to any value to satisfy the other condition that, some of all changes in ratings after a contest should be zero. If you still didn't get it I can explain with an example.

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    First contest ratings are [38, 38, 38, whatever] so you infect 3 people. And in second contest last person is infected.

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
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      how it become -21 = 38, 83 = 38, 50=38 ??

      all rating changes must be equal to zero???

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        4 years ago, # ^ |
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        The total of 4 people ratings [-21, 83, 50, -59] should stay the same yes. -21 + 83 + 50 + -59 = 53 so after the first contest ratings will be [38, 38, 38, X] and 38 + 38 + 38 + X = 53. So X is -61. [-21, 83, 50, -59] became [38, 38, 38, -61] after first contest.

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
    ← Rev. 3   Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

    more simply you can get all ratings to x except for the last guy, and compensate it all on the last guy to make whole difference 0. and then do last guy, make him compete with any one and make last guy infected as he is the only one remaining. that is case for 2, (only 2 operations needed).

    if the last guy == x, he was already infected, that is case for 1 (only one operation needed) else 2.

    more formally

    all elements == x: output 0

    if (count x in array > 0 || sum == x) output 1

    else 2

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +66 Vote: I do not like it

Test Case 68 on A was nasty.

Also, there wasn't enough of a distinction between D1 and D2. They were both just basically greedy brute forces. I solved D1 without even looking at D2, and I then solved D2 by changing 1 line.

Overall, this was a bad round.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +25 Vote: I do not like it

I did left the contest early because of bad statements A+B.

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +1 Vote: I do not like it

    True. Read B like 4-5 times and finally did what i could understand from the explanation.

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

Thank you for your effort.

(750 + 1000) for D1 + D2, but each one of them is actually easier than B. In the previous contests, it is used to be counted as: if you solved D1 you deserve 750, then solving D2 gives you the complete degree because you solved the difficulty that deserve 1750. But today, you can get 1750 by solving two problems, each of them is easier than the problem that deserve 750 in this contest.

In other words, my mind used to think of D2 as 1750 not as 1000 or lower.

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4 years ago, # |
← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +11 Vote: I do not like it

Please downvote this round!

List of problems

-A was badly written (all these FSTs on test case 68!)

-Distinction between D1 and D2 was insignificant, they were both just stupid greedies. Many people solved D1 and almost copy pasted their code into D2.

-No data structure/algorithms involved at all: just greedies!!

-Terrible scoring. Why was the scoring on E so high??

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +11 Vote: I do not like it

    C'mon bro, appreciate the work of the authors, testers and whoever has contributed to the round. Not every round might be to your liking, isn't it? But yes, I see that pretests for A were badly designed :(

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
      ← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +9 Vote: I do not like it

      Oh please.

      Behind every crap in this world lies someone's hard work

      Should people just stay quiet about to please the authors?

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4 years ago, # |
← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +6 Vote: I do not like it

To be honest, D1 and D2 were much easier than even A. I didn't even look at D2. Just matched the test cases and submitted for both D1 and D2 and pretests passed without even changing a line.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +47 Vote: I do not like it

Sad round... The description of B and C confused me a lot. The difficult of these problems is how to understand what author mean rather than algorithm.

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4 years ago, # |
← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

Lots of people failing system tests on question A , test 61 and 68 mainly. Also, ordering of questions weren't that good. I do appreciate the efforts of the authors ,and testers, but many of us are kind of not satisfied.

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

Just a suggestion. Please next time make tight pretests. It really feels bad when you have think you have solved but after the contest you know that your problem A fails.

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

test 61 for A is awesome

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    deleted

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    What is that?

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    can u say what it is

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
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      1 4 1 3 2 5 Answer: 2

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
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      is: !!!WA!!!

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        4 years ago, # ^ |
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        how?

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          4 years ago, # ^ |
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          I don't know yet. Now I'm checking and my solussion is similar to others...

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

            why are you checking for odd values in both cases of N ?

            if N is odd 1 will have the change to make the last element and hence he would want atlest one odd value,

            other wise second would want atleast one even value.

            but you only checked for odd.

            either way i don't think if change in 500 points is going to make a drastic change in ranking anyway. you will still be under 400 or something (I guess).

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              4 years ago, # ^ |
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              yep... that was my mistake... and now I'm pretty sure it was a copy+paste that didn't change well :(

              I think that 500 points will definetively represents about 20 o 30 in rating... that if E gets accepted

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                4 years ago, # ^ |
                  Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

                testers are simp to not add that in pretest.

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    Also test case 68

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    I'm madly in love with test case 68.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +30 Vote: I do not like it

Problem B is hard to understand to me that I waste a lot of time :(

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +13 Vote: I do not like it

Problem d is obviously easier than usual d. I thought D2 would be much more difficult than D1, but they’re actually the same.

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4 years ago, # |
← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

B ruined the contest for me, I am not sure about the proof for a "nice staricase", but the proof is definitely not DIV2 level, and even the observation is not that intuitive for a "nice staircase" since there are only 3 samples (1,3,7) and it is inhumane to expect us to draw 15 staircase.

And IMO A+C+D1+D2 was much easier than B,A and C were good,D2 was too easy, was not able to even look at E, thanks to B

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +51 Vote: I do not like it

Today's contest in nutshell:

Untitled.png

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

    Totally unbalanced contest, i thought of doing D first so that i can relax and do A, B and C afterwards, turns out i did A first.

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

    B should be closer to C, and D2 should have been lower than D1. there is no difference. rest is okay.

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4 years ago, # |
← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +14 Vote: I do not like it

This is the first time I have failed System Tests, that too on Problem A. Anybody knows why so many System Fails on A?
EDIT : Weak Pretests and a simple typo made you fail System tests.
Also D2 was greedy? Why? I was thinking greedy only worked for D1 and didn't even give it a thought on D2. A really bad/easy D problem for Div. 2. Only problem I liked was C.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +9 Vote: I do not like it

Nowadays Problems Setters are emphasizing more on Problem statements rather than Problems.

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4 years ago, # |
← Rev. 5   Vote: I like it +14 Vote: I do not like it

Adding a proof to B:

Each unit square is a cell. Each column is a stair. A square is a union of cells that makes a square shape, as shown in the problem.

Consider a staircase with n steps. We want to partition the n*(n+1)/2 cells into squares. Let f(n) be the least number of squares required to do so. Consider the topmost cell of each stair; there are n of them . Note that no two of these topmost cells can belong to a common square. Therefore, the answer f(n) is at least n, for all n.

Suppose f(n) = n for some n > 1. Then, the n squares that partition the staircase must cover the topmost cells of each stair; you cannot have a square that misses all topmost cells of all stairs, otherwise we will need > n squares.

Now, consider the bottom right cell. The square that covers this must also cover the topmost cell of some stair. For even n, this is impossible. For odd n, this is possible only when you take a square that covers the topmost cell of the middle stair and the bottom right cell of the staircase. But upon taking this square, we are left with 2 staircases of sizes (n-1)/2 each. This means

f(n) = n => f((n-1)/2) = n-1/2. Thus n is nice implies n is odd and (n-1)/2 is nice. From this, you can conclude that n is of the form 2^x-1 for some x.

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

I've checked for the even position for the second person and got WA at 68. This is silly that this case isn't in Pretest. What a shame! It must be in the Pretest. What's going on in Codeforces! Shame!

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +1 Vote: I do not like it

Did you have some kind of intention to prepare such a large number of system test cases for problem A?

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

What a strange contest. D1 and D2 combined were worth 1750, but most people think that D was easier than B and C. Surely the contest writers knew that 5 ad hoc problems is quite unusual.

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

Such a disgusting round. Nothing to learn, no use of dsa/algo, unclear statements, weak pretests, poor choice of problems, misleading score distribution, __

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

Stop writing CF rounds!. :)

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4 years ago, # |
← Rev. 5   Vote: I like it +20 Vote: I do not like it
A
B
C
D
E
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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

    for D,

    look at sample cases and do exactly.
take two pointers i and j
initialize i = 0, j = (n / 2)
now alternatively add them to another vector.
check answer count.
print it.
AC.
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      4 years ago, # ^ |
      ← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

      For D2

      Sort the input and split into 2 parts — low with N/2 elements and high with (N+1)/2 elements. Put to the answer the first element from high. In a cycle try to put the element from low followed by the element from high (put it if it's smaller than the previous element in the answer), otherwise put one element from the high. Once you have no elements in one of the parts, break the cycle and dump the rest to the answer.

      93231855

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

I failed at D2 and don't know why. Can you check my code?

93223419

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
    ← Rev. 3   Vote: I like it +5 Vote: I do not like it

    consider this case:

    6

    1 2 2 2 3 4

    your answer is:

    1

    2 1 2 2 3 4

    while optimal one is:

    2

    2 1 3 2 4 2

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +43 Vote: I do not like it

Nice round awesome pretests

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

weak pretest

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

While I pretty much agree with complains about the problems

I just don't see what was so difficult about the definition of "nice staircases" everybody mention

"A staircase with n stairs is called nice, if it may be covered by n disjoint squares"

Just what can be misunderstood here?

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

    Misunderstandable are: How much stairs a staircase has? What counts as a square? What exactly is meant by disjoint?

    Of course, once understood what the writer intended to say it is clear.

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
        Vote: I like it +1 Vote: I do not like it

      "If a staircase has n stairs, then it is made of n columns, the first column is 1 cell high, the second column is 2 cells high, …, the n-th column if n cells high"

      Extremely clear

      It is probably possible to argue about the definitions of a square and disjoint. But I just don't see how else the problem can be interpreted.

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        4 years ago, # ^ |
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        Well, in this case I did not misunderstand the statement at some important detail or the like. I simply did not understand it at all.

        The main detail I missed was that the number of stairs is the number of cells in the diagonal in the surrounding square. Because of this I was not aware that the number of squares (the colored ones in the picture) is equal to the number of stairs.

        Reasons for not getting the idea was maybe the usage of the words stairs and staircase, which where pretty meaningless to me, just two similar sounding words. In that case a somewhat more formal defintion would have helped.

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

In problem B the colors of squares of sample was showing the solution.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +14 Vote: I do not like it

Am I the only one who solved D2 like D1

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

Currently I am the only one who failed test case 16 on C FST!

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

bad contest With weak pretests

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it -20 Vote: I do not like it

This is the first time I have solved 5 questions in div2. Because I was ill today and had a bad cold and fever, I thought about it and decided to register a new id to participate in div2 tonight to avoid losing rating. But the result of this is that my main id lost an opportunity to record a memorable milestone. (My main id used to solve 5 problems on codeforces, but that was in div3). God knows when I will solve 5 problems on div2 next time. (If you know my main id, don't say it, thank you.) I hope I can have good luck next time, and good luck to everyone.

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +16 Vote: I do not like it

    I disagree with ur idea of giving contest with a new account. I think if you perform bad in any contest then you would easily regain in the future rounds. Just to have a better graph of rating should not be a reason to make new account.

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    I think you deserved it, there is no reason for anyone to have an alt account in my opinion, let this be a lesson and try to overcome your fear of contest and rating changes.

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

so many system test failed ...

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4 years ago, # |
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Really thankful for the first test case of problem C. I think many would have got wrong answer, if this case was not in the sample test case.

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

What if the problem F is easier than now?

The number of solutions for E is much more than that for F although the number of solutions for D if far much more than that for E.

Maybe make D more difficult and make F easier will provide a better experience.

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

I suppose there is something I haven't got about how contests work. I saw a green "tests passed" in problem D2 during the contest and now I see an error in test 67... How can it be?

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    maybe some of test cases failed in system testing

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

E is an old USAMO (a math contest) problem

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +15 Vote: I do not like it

I didn't submit D2. But my D1 solution was the D2 solution too.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +1 Vote: I do not like it

Weak pretest in problem A and D2.Same problem again and again...

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4 years ago, # |
← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +30 Vote: I do not like it

Useless nasty pretests in A & D2.

They decided just not to cover the last testcase of D2 in pretests which could've made a difference for many people.

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
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    I made such a big mistake in A (mixing the odd and the even indices) and my solution amazingly passed all pretests!

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
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      the pretests of C is the same !

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
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      Luckily I didn't do any mistake in A. But pretests should cover these kinds of obvious errors unless someone intends to mess with the contestants.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it -9 Vote: I do not like it

I hope the statements were clear and short

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

Hey @shishin,

I got flagged for copying with some random guy I have never heard of in my life for Div 2 C. I think it may be because of the brevity of my code:

for _ in range(int(input())):
    n,x = map(int,input().split())
    l = list(map(int,input().split()))
    if all(i == x for i in l):
        print(0)
    elif sum(l) == n*x or x in l:
        print(1)
    else:
        print(2)

Can I please get unflagged? (I was using a private IDE as well btw)

Thanks.

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

Finally become purple thanks for the contest

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4 years ago, # |
← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +21 Vote: I do not like it

I suppose the difficulty of each question in the contest is similar to the picture below.

I think most participants think the problem A and D2 are a little annoying because they are easy to FST.

Wish that all the participants can FST less!

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +16 Vote: I do not like it

May I ask a (maybe naive) question?

Users like dzh_loves_mjy whose rating is less than 2099 are not rated. Why is it?

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

    I suppose it's possible that the person was discovered to be cheating, or an alternate account? I'm not sure what the policy is now, though I think if it was cheating the account would be banned.

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
        Vote: I like it +16 Vote: I do not like it

      I don't agree with you. If anyone cheats in the contest, he will be skipped.

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +27 Vote: I do not like it

Just for fun :

Problem A.

my hack was last hack during contest (test 83 last test of systests).

Spoiler

and (> 50) solutions fail on that test in systests.

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

Hi, Iam practising from a long time on codechef and hackerrank but iam not able to solve problems what should I do.??

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

    Just try to get out of your comfort zone and try solving problems that you are unable to do in the first go. Think hard on such problems. Do this for a few days. Apart from that try virtual contests as well.

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

Can anyone explain me what to do in Problem A? Its really confusing for me :(.

It says Raze can mark digits from odd positions and Breach can mark digits from even positions. Find who cant cross the last digit if Raze starts. Can anyone explain what am i missing. Thanks!

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

    Raze and Breach mark digits in odd and even positions respectively. They stop when there is only one left. The question is to find whether this last unmarked digit is even(Breach wins) or odd(raze wins).Since both players play optimally, suppose there are more digits on odd places (Raze has high ground) and there is an odd digit in one of those places, he marks the rest of the digits and the odd digit is left and he wins.

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

Me before the contest: Jokes over, you're dead Me after the contest: Need healing, Jett revive me Jett

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