hossainzarif's blog

By hossainzarif, history, 3 years ago, In English

Something like Berland State University and some other common names.

  • Vote: I like it
  • +80
  • Vote: I do not like it

| Write comment?
»
3 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +43 Vote: I do not like it

I always see the name Polycarp in div-3 contests although I have no idea why.

»
3 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +27 Vote: I do not like it

Also in most game theory problems, there are Alice and Bob. In Educational Rounds, Nastya, Vasiya etc. are commonly used. Really curious about the back story of them if there is any (specially Alice ans Bob as I've seen them in lot of other oj).

  • »
    »
    3 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +49 Vote: I do not like it

    Alice, Bob -> A, B?

  • »
    »
    3 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +8 Vote: I do not like it

    I've also seen the names Alice and Bob in some math olympiad problems related to game theory, so it seems that they are the most common names in all types of game theory problems. I have no idea about the backstory, though

  • »
    »
    3 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +91 Vote: I do not like it

    Alice and Bob are also used in cryptography as two people sending messages to each other. I'm not sure if the convention started in cryptography or game theory first.

    The convention is useful because alphabetically you can tell who is first, and also they have different genders so it's easy to distinguish them with pronouns.

    • »
      »
      »
      3 years ago, # ^ |
        Vote: I like it +38 Vote: I do not like it

      It seems that... this convention started in cryptography first.

      The Alice and Bob characters were invented by Ron Rivest, Adi Shamir, and Leonard Adleman in their 1978 paper "A Method for Obtaining Digital Signatures and Public-key Cryptosystems". Subsequently, they have become common archetypes in many scientific and engineering fields, such as quantum cryptography, game theory and physics. (source)

  • »
    »
    3 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

    I've seen Alice and Bob in math problems too.

»
3 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +20 Vote: I do not like it

Baby Ehab (& its XOR)

»
3 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +89 Vote: I do not like it

We want Ram and Shayam in next cf round

»
3 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

Vasya and Petya and their variety of problems!

»
3 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +10 Vote: I do not like it

Berland and Bitland are popular cities on Codeforces

»
3 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +1 Vote: I do not like it

Dima

»
3 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +7 Vote: I do not like it

Something + Tree, for any tree problem. 100% authentic

»
3 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +12 Vote: I do not like it

Different variations of word "good" for subarray/subsegment description.

»
3 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +30 Vote: I do not like it

At least Codeforces has various beautiful names instead of only "Chef" in Codechef xD.

  • »
    »
    2 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +9 Vote: I do not like it

    Don't forget Chefina ;)

    That's what motivates the problem in the first place, him trying to impress her.

»
3 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +4 Vote: I do not like it

Alice and Bob playing a game

»
3 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +29 Vote: I do not like it

I also wonder why most CP problems have some "background stories" not directly related to the problems.

This seems so weird to me when I started CP.

»
3 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +2 Vote: I do not like it

Some names are names of author's itself like Ehab and Kuroni

  • »
    »
    3 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +1 Vote: I do not like it

    But, we know the stories there. But, here we're missing the story of Berland University, Polycarp, Monocarp, Biteland, Vasya petya and many more.

»
2 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it -30 Vote: I do not like it

Yet Another + a previous problem title in Codeforces. Perfect match.