This is something that popped up in the 3U Question/Answer Thread, links nicely to a discussion I had with someone at uni before my last exam.
Rui presents here what I'd call a "clever" method. This method is definitely more difficult to spot, requires a cunning eye, but would you say that it makes it easier?
Basically, I'm interested to hear some thoughts on this idea:
Where is the turning point between brute force and clever workarounds?I'd say I lean slightly towards "brute force" methods, within reason. In my opinion, the time you spend looking for shortcuts is, in some cases, better spent just executing the typical calculation.
This doesn't include of course, just immediately knowing the shortcut (as I'm sure Rui just immediately did because he is God), but actually investing effort in going, "Hmm, is there an easier way to do this?" I suppose it is really a matter of payoffs. Where do you guys think the turning point lies,
how many lines of working is worth the price of expending the processing power to find a shortcut? I actually love this debate, keen to hear what everyone thinks
PS - Sorry for using your work as an example Rui PPS - Yes I debate about Mathematical Reasoning for leisure, I'm a nerd