Programming Contest problems come in many shapes and sizes. One step that can help
in successfully solving a problem is to determine the nature of that problem. One
of the easiest ways for people to do this is to make up a list of categories and
then decide which category(s) the problem fits into. So here is a first cut in making
a list of categories.
| Category | Distinguishing Features |
| Packing Problems | Fitting some shaped item into another shaped item |
| 2-D | Can 2-D object X fit in/pass through 2-D object Y |
| 3-D Perspective | What is visible, are two items the same |
| Combinations/Permutations | Solve some puzzle that requires calculation/production of acombination/permutation of items |
| Network | Minimum/maximum distance... |
| Inventory | Classic start with a list, add/remove/modidy list, display list of state whether operations are possible |
| Simultaneous Equations | Solve a situation with N unknowns (inequalities also) |
| String Containment | Is some string(s) contained in another string(s)/matrix |
| Rotation/Transformation | What happens when a series of rotations/transformations are applied to an object |
| Clock Arithmetic | Take the Nth item |
| Numerical Relationship | Primes, Pascal's triangle, Fibanacci Series, Factorial |
| Trig Relations | Problems tht require trig relationships to solve |
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© 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 Isaac Traxler