- GCJ round 1B: Problems A and B really twisted me from inside. I want to make sure same doesn't happen in next round. Any pointers/links to similar problems like problem A and B? I have 4 days to prepare for the next chance.
2.Also in general if someone has comments on preparing for rounds like these will be really helpful. I think I have been just randomly practicing from codeforces to topcoder to SPOJ to GCJ. I need direction or a strategy to get better. Please people share your journey or strategy to get good.
Direction could be: 1. A list of problems to solve.
A list of algorithms to learn.
Some lecture videos or blogs or books or problem sets especially for Mathematics.
Or just please show me how you achieved what you achieved till now.
I will really appreciate if some red replies to my post. Thanks
There are many blogs regarding how to become good or solving hard problems. You can find on Quora or you can go to Dreamoon's suggestion. It is not short term success and its more difficult if you have no guidance or coach in other terms. But codeforces community is very eager to help you if you need hint on problems or any algorithm.
For algorithm tutorial, you can search google their name with addition pdf, ppt, codeforces, topcoder etc. eg- Segment tree codeforces.
You will get lot of useful links.
I just like to solve from CF archive, practice at Gym and try to participate at all competitions. Actually, there are many online judges like codechef.com, acm.sgu.ru, acm.timus.ru, uva, spoj, etc. I've solved some problems there.
I use clist.by to see what competition will be held and when does it start, it is the great site by the way.
You need to know some standart algorithms and data structures. Practice is the best way to success. And also read editorials of all problems (even if you solved), because you may get other more better solutions and learn useful algos.
Upsolving (solving problems that couldn't solve at the contest) is also important.
And there is one question when solving problem: how much time you should think about one problem if you can't solve it. I don't know answer for this question, but I spend about 20-30 minutes to think. If I have absolutely no idea, I read editorial.