Mountain Panorama - A proposed new problem
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This problem can be solved using a fairly simple algorithm.
Sounds nice, can you describe the algorithm?
And the problem too, why you did not provide a link to draft?
qwerty hi,
The problem is likely to be in place fairly soon. This post is intended more as a notification to expect the problem. It also serves as a place where people can point to any issues with the problem once it becomes available.
As for the algorithm, I can think of at least 3 different ways of solving the problem, all of which use fairly simple techniques. What would be the point of describing the algorithms before posting the problem?
Yep, sorry for delay, Friends - this time gmail played a trick by moving the email to "spam" (how do they decide it, given that my inbox contains probably 60+ similar letters from this address - with other problems) - so the way taken by Clive is very wise and I generally dare to recommed it to be followed:
- problem text and code is sent via email
- forum topic is created so that it is both possible for the author to click "Summon admin" button at it - and to provide placeholder for further discussions if needed
- button "Summon" is also clicked :)
Dear Clive, thank you for the puzzle! I noticed that "creating reasonable mountain range" in a form of math expression is itself somewhat curious problem! BTW I wonder whether this background of hiking / rock-climbing was inspired by personal experience (as I never was at mountainous regions at all and always felt a bit envious hearing stories)!
Thanks for response and puzzle, Clive!
Rodion,
In answer to your question, from an early age I have had a passion for hiking, especially in mountain areas. I have completed many long hikes, up to 100 miles in length and have been to the tops of many mountains. The highest mountain in the UK is Ben Nevis at a height of 4413 feet or 1345 metres, so I haven't been particularly high in this country; although the views from the summits are still very spectacular. The highest mountain that I have every climbed is Long's Peak in the American Rocky Mountains. This has a height of 14,256 feet or 4345 metres. It is certainly high enough to be aware of the reduced amount of oxygen in the air. The view from the top is quite amazing, especially since Long's Peak is the highest mountain in the range. Unlike my problem, the panoramic view is a full 360 degrees.
The hike to Long's Peak is described as a highly challenging route but it doesn't really require any rock climbing. Scrambling is certainly needed. This is where you need to use your hands. I get slight feelings of vertigo in exposed places so I don't think I could cope with full rock climbing.
Sadly my hiking days are now over. Old age and ill health mean that the most that I can now manage is a 5 mile hike over easy terrain.
Clive, thanks a lot for sharing! It seems though I vaguely understood that Scotland is a mountainous country, I never had a clear impression how exactly it looks like, until googled for Ben Nevis! And it didn't occurred to me you travelled around the world to reach "heights" - Rocky Mountains, judging by pictures, always looked to me as something hardly climbable at all :) Especially I didn't know that "hiking" is applicable to such kind of terrains too! Recollections from childhood bring me some landscapes of South Urals where my mother's relatives lived - but I guess such a smooth-sloping forested shapes are still called "hills" in English - we "climbed" them simply while picking mushrooms :)
Many people I know nowadays would regard even 5 mile walk ridiculous and tiresome, even despite being in their 30-40-s. That seems like "aging in the head", and is something really regrettable :)
Of positive news - I was of course secretly proud to be able solving this problem, despite initial confusion which made me think it is harder than I thought. I especially like a kind of "inversion of approach" here. Needless to say, I as it often happens feel my reasoning weak and am not quite sure why it works.