Challenge problems
- Challenge problems are completely optional.
- The problems may be solved individually or in groups.
- Solutions should be e-mailed to your instructor: neal AT cs.ucr.edu.
- In your e-mail, include:
- the name, id number, section number of everyone in your group (just your own if your "group" is just you).
- a detailed and precise answer to the problem.
- references to any material (e.g. web or books) from which you got ideas.
- If you solve it as a group, only send one e-mail per group, and cc: the e-mail to everyone in your group.
Restrictions
- Do not work on the problems with anyone outside your own class section.
- Only solutions received within 4 days of announcing the problem will be accepted.
- Each student may submit only one e-mail per problem. (Being part of a group submission counts as your one e-mail.)
- NO CHEATING! If you cheat, I will go home, curl up under the sink, and suck my thumb. You really don't want that.
Incentives
- In each of the two sections of cs141, the first 2 correct submissions for each problem will be awarded a prize such as coupons for pizza, books, etc. If a group submission wins, the group shares the prize.
- For each challenge problem, for each INCORRECT submission by a group of N people (possibly N=1), each person in the group will be LOSE 1/N "challenge credits".
- For each challenge problem, for each correct and complete submission by a group of N people (possibly N=1) received within 4 days, each person in the group will be awarded 1/N "challenge credits".
- At the end of the term, the 2 people with the most accumulated challenge credits in each class section have the option of not taking the final. If they don't take the final, their grade will be determined as if their score on the final was equal to the weighted average of their score for the remaining coursework.
"Correctness" of a solution will be judged solely at the arbitrary discretion of the instructor.
Any group may appeal such a judgment of their submission, in which case, if all three TA's agree with the appeal,
the instructor's judgment will be overturned. :-)
The Problems