Recent content by StatOnTheSide

I guessed that if he knows the track, then he should just walk perpendicular to it. However, it is not clear if he knows where the track is. In fact, not much is given in the problem except that he hears the train's whistle from the west. Based on this article, the answer seems to be that he...

I have been trying to improve my problem solving skills and I have some experience to share. When I read an IMO type of question, there are three stages for me. 1. I freeze after reading the problem. It takes a while to understand the problem (not always but most of the time). I believe that...

This new to me. I had never known about it. Thanks very much for letting me know about it! Wow. Those kids must be very lucky then to have received good education. The school I was in, I actually taught my teacher about how to solve some of the more difficult exercises in the textbook. You can...

Not at all. This is an excellent point! This is a very good point. You must read G. Polya's "Mathematics and Plausible Reasoning" Vols 1 and 2. Math in the making is never published these days. In the old times, they used to publish their line of thinking. I think Euclid's "Elements" does...

Nice one!

Thanks very much for sharing your experience jedishrfu! You have rightly pointed out that insight can be obtained only through practice but as you also have pointed out previously, it is a necessary mental action to back out all the way and choose another direction. To know when to do it and to...

Thanks for the correction mfb. Does that not follow from the line where I state that 0<l<k+1? Feel free to correct me. I just typed it quickly and it does not have the rigor that a complete proof must have. You have to consider what happens if l>k+1 or when l=k+1. If you have l=k+1, the...

Thanks very much tfree76. I wonder as to why such a simple thing is not included in standard math syllabus. It might stem from the fact that this approach may be a little bit deeper than what kids can handle. It may not be something that kids 'have to know'; however, it is nevertheless a very...

Thanks very much mfb. It is good to know that you agree with the general appraoch to solve tough contest problems. Please do feel free to add more to it in case you think it is missing something.

I have recently had a revelation and I have very few people to share it with. It would mean a lot to me if the experienced problem solvers in this forum can pitch in and add to/correct the following paragraph. I am thinking that in case there is more to it, then I would love to hear about it and...

Thanks for your kind words 42Physics. Please do not take my theory about ego boost etc too seriously. I do believe that it is different for older people. To be a grown up has its advantages and this is probably one of them. I was talking about my experience during my undergrad/high school days...

I am not commenting on any particular case. I have been told that each person is different and it may not be the same for everybody. I have certain beliefs based on my experience and it is very strong. It is nothing more than a mammalian trait. If you are a person who has a set of friends and if...

Hello all. Long time back, I was looking for a book on psycology of problem solving. I was trying to understand as to what it takes to be able to solve contest problems like that in the International Mathematical Olympiads. I wish to share here with you a great book that I discovered. It is...

It is interesting that you have a degree in ECE and you wish to change to Physics. Engineering physics is different. You will learn physics but that will be enough to do engineering with it. You can get an Mtech from IIT Bombay as they are really good in that field. In case you want to do...

I am just curious to know as to what are the course requirements to get a PhD in Mathematics. Is there is a standard set of courses required or does it vary according to the university? Also, does it matter if it is pure math or applied math? I simply googled and found that there is a list of...