Math Is Fun Forum

gourish

Member

Registered: 2013-05-28

Posts: 153

how to prepare for IMO.

hi guys, i am passionate about math and solve math problems of a decent difficulty. i have seen that IMO has difficult problems. i wish to learn how to solve such difficult problems.
how should i prepare for IMO. what are the skills that i should have to solve IMO problems.

P.S. i know practice is the key, but i need to know what are  tools i need to have before solving the problems.

---

"The man was just too bored so he invented maths for fun"
-some wise guy

David

Member

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2014-04-23

Posts: 3,164

Re: how to prepare for IMO.

Be passionate about math. Be able to teach yourself math.

---

His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: how to prepare for IMO.

Those problems are made to be tough. Got one in particular?

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

gourish

Member

Registered: 2013-05-28

Posts: 153

Re: how to prepare for IMO.

I have got this question from IMO 2015 (yes, I searched for the questions and couldn't solve the first question that I found)

"determine all triplets (a,b,c) of positive integers each of the form ab-c, bc-a, ca-b is a power of 2"

I wish to solve more and more of such problems but I don't know where to start from as I think I should start with some basic level problems and move onto such harder ones.
@bobbym

---

"The man was just too bored so he invented maths for fun"
-some wise guy

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: how to prepare for IMO.

The learning process I used consisted of finding problems with solutions and then studying the solutions.

Also, you must answer the question of whether you want to learn how to get answers or score high on the IMO.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

gourish

Member

Registered: 2013-05-28

Posts: 153

Re: how to prepare for IMO.

I want to learn how to get answers... I am already in the first year of engineering college I don't think I can write the IMO (Correct me if I am wrong).

---

"The man was just too bored so he invented maths for fun"
-some wise guy

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: how to prepare for IMO.

What kind of math are they teaching engineers these days?

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

gourish

Member

Registered: 2013-05-28

Posts: 153

Re: how to prepare for IMO.

only calculus and matrices to solve equations. the next year i shall learn discrete math (for computer science). i want to learn on my own from books or online because that is a faster method of learning for me. teachers are either too slow or are bound to teach only what's relevant to the syllabus. i want to learn because i enjoy math.

---

"The man was just too bored so he invented maths for fun"
-some wise guy

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: how to prepare for IMO.

You will need number theory and combinatorics, these are very popular in Olympiads. I can recommend the Beiler and Tucker books.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.