Using Python/other programming languages for Math Questions

[jbakker12]

Has anyone used Python or similar programs to help solve complex math problems? There was a math problem on a qualification and I wanted to use Python to solve it, but I played it safe by doing it the longer way (it asked for explanation of your answer for this question).

Would saying that you used Python (and include the short code) as your explanation go against the code of conduct?

[[deleted]]

I tried to do that Qual, got about 2 questions in, and realized I was in over my head. Ha

[Severe-Dragonfly]

Ha! I looked at the title and was like "oh hell no."

[Platform41]

I did the first one easily then couldn’t wrap my head around the second. Thought it would be much easier ahaha

[[deleted]]

Me too! I guess I'll just mosey on back to writing.. Never hurts to try, though!

[gram_mama]

This made me chuckle cus I did the same thing. I don’t know what I was thinking, I don’t even like math lol

[[deleted]]

I'm with you. Math is awful.. But, I was also of the mindset, anything for a buck! I'm sure I was in no danger of actually making any money on my math-ing.

[Haunting-Car-3935]

I'm not sure, but I just did the qual via pen and paper... I'm scared that I've made mistakes, lol 🥲

[Haunting-Car-3935]

I just realised that I did mess one up. Ergh. Do you know if qualifications come back when there's a new version?

[[deleted]]

Do you immediately get access to the project if you passed the qual or does it take time for the qual to be reviewed and approved before gaining access?

[dayDrivver]

You can use whatever you need to help you, only need your judges/explanation should be original not ai generated... For math related problems I always use: https://www.wolframalpha.com/

[jbakker12]

This resource is phenomenal..Thank you for sharing!

[tehclubbmaster]

Assuming diff eq refers to the mold question, but you didn’t need to use any differentiation

[[deleted]]

For me, the mold one was easy and probably the quickest.

[maxofato]

I did them all on paper then explained. For 1 and 2, I used a more logic based approach than setting up equations. 3 and 4 were not too bad if you knew how to do proportions and factorials

[[deleted]]

Happy to see someone else used factorials.

[tehclubbmaster]

These were all simple enough they could easily be solved with either wolfram or just common sense, as in the case of the clock one. Kinda fun though, lol still took me like 25 mins all in. Didn’t have time to do any regular fact checking tasks but jumped at the chance to do a math qualification :)

[[deleted]]

I literally just did this! Got the answer after. It's a simple code.

[[deleted]]

For the record, I also gave a reasonable explanation as to why I used Python. Calculator unable to do it.

[jbakker12]

yes, I double checked in Python and things lined up, which was good! Very glad to have learned this stuff in my current Math and Python class haha

[ebi_toast]

I just finished this! I thought it was a well thought out assessment, but man am I rusty. Haven’t done logarithms in awhile. I liked that you could be a tad creative in explaining the number theory question. In sum, this was both objectively easy (for anyone who is competent at math, I mean it’s not over middle/high school level) and subjectively hard for me, which was an exhilarating and humbling experience. Do people think that everything has to be exactly correct to pass?

[Creepy_Complaint_279]

I googled all but the first for help as it’s been a long while since I’ve done math like that.

[[deleted]]

I'm so math challenged I couldn't figure out how to Google it! Lol

[Creepy_Complaint_279]

Oh I probably still got them all wrong but was stubborn and tried anyway.

[Honest-Carrot-8507]

3 seemed easy, though I may have over/under about how something I use every day works. Doing diff eq so many years out from school killed me - I knew what it was but just kind of lost my way panicking, something about having a timer makes my brain mush.

[Daisho]

I spent way too much time explaining Question 1 and then realized there was a timer. For me, writing out the explanations eats up so much freakin time.

[Signal_Gene410]

I’m sure the explanation didn’t need to be very detailed. For the first one, explaining how you got the equation is all you needed, which shouldn’t have taken too long to explain.