Fermi Questions C

[EastStroudsburg13]

Yes, so if it was 4.9E3, your answer would be 3, but if it was 5E3, then your answer would be 4. You just round to the closest exponent really. (4900 is closer to 1000 than 10000, 5000 rounds up to 10000.

[49ers]

Yes, so if it was 4.9E3, your answer would be 3, but if it was 5E3, then your answer would be 4. You just round to the closest exponent really. (4900 is closer to 1000 than 10000, 5000 rounds up to 10000.

so thats the whole reasoning behind that concept?
How do you record your answer? Do you record it as (for example) just 4 if the answer is 1*10^4 or would you write it all out?

[hmcginny]

You record your answer as the power of 10. So you would write 4 in your example.

[49ers]

In the rules it says all teams will have the same amount of time to answer the questions. Does this mean a set amount of time per question or set amount of time for all questions? And is there a time given yet?

[Schrodingerscat]

I am assuming the same amount of time rule means that is the event supervisor thinks starting the test will take 3-4 minutes they should decide all teams will start the test 5 minutes into the 50 minute block so all teams have 45 minutes instead of some teams having more or less time. I personally think the wording of the rules when it says "as many as possible" implies the questions should not have individual time limits.

[Marble101]

Yes, so if it was 4.9E3, your answer would be 3, but if it was 5E3, then your answer would be 4. You just round to the closest exponent really. (4900 is closer to 1000 than 10000, 5000 rounds up to 10000.

Unless you think Magnitude Notation caused you to over-estimate. Then you round 5000 down. It could go either way.

I am assuming the same amount of time rule means that is the event supervisor thinks starting the test will take 3-4 minutes they should decide all teams will start the test 5 minutes into the 50 minute block so all teams have 45 minutes instead of some teams having more or less time. I personally think the wording of the rules when it says "as many as possible" implies the questions should not have individual time limits.

Isn't time a tie breaker?

[Schrodingerscat]

I am assuming the same amount of time rule means that is the event supervisor thinks starting the test will take 3-4 minutes they should decide all teams will start the test 5 minutes into the 50 minute block so all teams have 45 minutes instead of some teams having more or less time. I personally think the wording of the rules when it says "as many as possible" implies the questions should not have individual time limits.

Isn't time a tie breaker?

The way I read that is if someone leaves early the time will be recorded, and that could be used to break a tie of two basically identically scoring teams.

[OldSpice]

I am assuming the same amount of time rule means that is the event supervisor thinks starting the test will take 3-4 minutes they should decide all teams will start the test 5 minutes into the 50 minute block so all teams have 45 minutes instead of some teams having more or less time. I personally think the wording of the rules when it says "as many as possible" implies the questions should not have individual time limits.

Isn't time a tie breaker?

The way I read that is if someone leaves early the time will be recorded, and that could be used to break a tie of two basically identically scoring teams.

I feel like that would cause problems...someone should probably submit a clarification.

[ecleteric]

Does anyone know roughly how much time you have per question?

[Schrodingerscat]

It depends upon the test, my three invite tests so far have been 20-30 questions. However, a supervisor could put as many questions as they wanted.

[rkoopma2]

How much do you guys study for this event? It seems like you can't really study anything -- just practice

[Schrodingerscat]

How much do you guys study for this event? It seems like you can't really study anything -- just practice

I personally do not study much, but I suppose the two main ways (other than practicing problems) would be to either memorize specific commonly used numbers or to read books and/or websites that contain numerical trivia.

[slytherin-at-heart]

Other than doing practice question and gathering basic knowledge that might be helpful, does anyone else have a way to study for this? I'm afraid that I'll get bored of just doing practice problems rather quickly.

[OldSpice]

Other than doing practice question and gathering basic knowledge that might be helpful, does anyone else have a way to study for this? I'm afraid that I'll get bored of just doing practice problems rather quickly.

I don't know about others, but I'm really good at retaining numbers. So personally I just read random fact books, webpages, etc.

[quizbowl]

I got 4th at the Athens - 42 questions, finished in 33 minutes. No unusual questions, some funky math ones (23! * 34! * 41!, I think) and a few general randomness ones. Great job to Solon, I heard you guys got 32 5's or something :O