I got a 3!!!

**iironiic** · 03-26-2012, 07:27 PM

... Out of 120 points on this years Putnam Exam (Top 33%). I don't know if I should be happy about that or not haha. I was really confident that I scored at least 20 points, but I guess this year was one of the harder exams.

For those that are unfamiliar, the Putnam Math Exam is a 12 question exam given to undergraduates nationwide (in Canada and US). You have six hours. The median score is usually a 0 lmfao.

Last year I scored a 10 which was the (Top 50%). I guess that there is some improvement right? :3

Hopefully I'll do my best next year! I should probably work on math problems more often so I'll make that a habit! :3 Wish me luck? :3

**DossarLX ODI** · 03-26-2012, 07:28 PM

What type of math questions are even asked if you got a 3 out of 120? Sounds like some really long brutal test.

**iironiic** · 03-26-2012, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DossarLX ODI

What type of math questions are even asked if you got a 3 out of 120? Sounds like some really long brutal test.

Here was this year's (technically 2011's) exam:

http://amc.maa.org/a-activities/a7-p.../-pdf/2011.pdf

I was really confident with A4 and B2 since I have the right answers and am confident with my proofs. I guess it was not so convincing to the graders haha.

**8 Hour Whore** · 03-26-2012, 07:31 PM

I'm in Cal 4 atm and I don't even want to attempt this because if azn can only get a 3... I would get a -10

**Winrar** · 03-26-2012, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iironiic

(33th percentile)

**iironiic** · 03-26-2012, 07:38 PM

Bahahahahahaha fixed. Man I am so stupid today... first I don't know what a love triangle is, and now this? xD

**Bluearrowll** · 03-26-2012, 07:38 PM

This has been advertised in a few universities around the city by math societies - mainly because after you attempt this test, succeeding tests will seem much easier. LOL

I now dub you
Wilson XXXIII

**Breakdown16** · 03-26-2012, 07:40 PM

I've heard about this competition a couple times before and it seems extremely challenging. How much math background is usually recommended before taking the test?

**dag12** · 03-26-2012, 07:40 PM

It's an extremely difficult proof-based test. Kinda like the USAMO or IMO, but harder. (though those are for the high school kids haha.. Good times)
Also, I'm confused how 50th percentile -> 33rd percentile is improvement haha. Or maybe my sarcasm detector is broken.
Grats though! I took the test too

**Breakdown16** · 03-26-2012, 07:44 PM

Quoted from here. Doesn't seem too descriptive as to number of courses/years of experience, but it does mention at the end a few of the topics covered...though it doesn't really say to what extent.

Quote:

The examination will be constructed to test originality as well as technical competence. It is expected that the contestant will be familiar with the formal theories embodied in undergraduate mathematics. It is assumed that such training, designed for mathematics and physical science majors, will include somewhat more sophisticated mathematical concepts than is the case in minimal courses. Thus the differential equations course is presumed to include some references to qualitative existence theorems and subtleties beyond the routine solution devices. Questions will be included that cut across the bounds of various disciplines, and self-contained questions that do not fit into any of the usual categories may be included. It will be assumed that the contestant has acquired a familiarity with the body of mathematical lore commonly discussed in mathematics clubs or in courses with such titles as “survey of the foundations of mathematics.” It is also expected that the self-contained questions involving elementary concepts from group theory, set theory, graph theory, lattice theory, number theory, and cardinal arithmetic will not be entirely foreign to the contestant’s experience.

**iironiic** · 03-26-2012, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dag12

Also, I'm confused how 50th percentile -> 33rd percentile is improvement haha. Or maybe my sarcasm detector is broken.
Grats though! I took the test too

I don't know haha! That's why I'm not too happy about my 3 xD. Do you know what you got? I'm sure you did better than me!

And there isn't really any required classes to take for this exam. It is more like an extracurricular activity haha. It is suggested to take as many math classes though.

Mau5 · 03-26-2012, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iironiic

Here was this year's (technically 2011's) exam:

http://amc.maa.org/a-activities/a7-p.../-pdf/2011.pdf

I was really confident with A4 and B2 since I have the right answers and am confident with my proofs. I guess it was not so convincing to the graders haha.

Wrong link, that was to a foreign language exam
Fix please

Lmao kidding nice job regardless though dude

**Breakdown16** · 03-26-2012, 07:49 PM

Ha ha, I think I saw qqwref on the list of award recipients. Congrats!

And congrats to iironiic and dag12 for even taking it...really seems out of my league once I looked over the problems. Kind of scary knowing the median is zero...

**MyRoseTearsBlood** · 03-26-2012, 07:50 PM

In before Rubix takes the test blindfolded.

**Bluearrowll** · 03-26-2012, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dag12

Also, I'm confused how 50th percentile -> 33rd percentile is improvement haha. Or maybe my sarcasm detector is broken.
Grats though! I took the test too

The 50th percentile means you placed in the top 50% of the people who took the test. the 33rd percentile means you placed in the top 33% of the people who took the test. Therefore, being in the top half to the top third is in fact an improvement.

**Breakdown16** · 03-26-2012, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluearrowll

The 50th percentile means you placed in the top 50% of the people who took the test. the 33rd percentile means you placed in the top 33% of the people who took the test. Therefore, being in the top half to the top third is in fact an improvement.

I'm actually used to seeing the other way around for most things, including standardized tests. Higher percentage = higher number of points compared to others.

**iironiic** · 03-26-2012, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Breakdown16

Ha ha, I think I saw qqwref on the list of award recipients. Congrats!

Oh wow! Didn't notice him there haha! Congrats to qqwref! :3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Breakdown16

I'm actually used to seeing the other way around for most things, including standardized tests. Higher percentage = higher number of points compared to others.

Woops. "Percentile" wasn't the right word. I fixed it though!

**ichliebekase** · 03-26-2012, 07:58 PM

I took something like the Putnam Exam years ago, it was optional back in high school to take a glimpse into the true hard stuff. Definitely no walk in the park xD very nice job :]

**dag12** · 03-26-2012, 08:05 PM

Yeah, nth percentile means you did better than n% of the people. Crash course in math for the day!
But yeah, I'm not sure how I did lol. I haven't checked, and I haven't been to my school's math club in ages haha. Last year was ~35 I think for me.
In either case though, I wanna consider myself done with math. As a Chem major, the highest level of math I need is abstract algebra or real and complex analysis(even for like quantum field theory...)
Our school produced a Putnam Fellow this year though! What a beast.

**Guest15937** · 03-26-2012, 08:10 PM

And here I am, thinking the AIME is hard...

03-26-2012, 07:27 PM	#1
iironiic D6 FFR Legacy Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Age: 32 Posts: 4,342	I got a 3!!! ... Out of 120 points on this years Putnam Exam (Top 33%). I don't know if I should be happy about that or not haha. I was really confident that I scored at least 20 points, but I guess this year was one of the harder exams. For those that are unfamiliar, the Putnam Math Exam is a 12 question exam given to undergraduates nationwide (in Canada and US). You have six hours. The median score is usually a 0 lmfao. Last year I scored a 10 which was the (Top 50%). I guess that there is some improvement right? :3 Hopefully I'll do my best next year! I should probably work on math problems more often so I'll make that a habit! :3 Wish me luck? :3 Last edited by iironiic; 03-26-2012 at 07:56 PM..

03-26-2012, 07:31 PM	#4
8 Hour Whore ←↓↑→ Lets Bang? ←↓↑→ Join Date: Oct 2006 Age: 32 Posts: 2,324	Re: I got a 3!!! I'm in Cal 4 atm and I don't even want to attempt this because if azn can only get a 3... I would get a -10 __________________ R.I.P JellyGod <333 Best AAA: Banned Forever BlackFlags: 49

03-26-2012, 07:38 PM	#6
iironiic D6 FFR Legacy Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Age: 32 Posts: 4,342	Re: I got a 3!!! Bahahahahahaha fixed. Man I am so stupid today... first I don't know what a love triangle is, and now this? xD

03-26-2012, 07:38 PM	#7
Bluearrowll ⊙▃⊙ Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: I live in the last place where you Look. Age: 31 Posts: 7,376	Re: I got a 3!!! This has been advertised in a few universities around the city by math societies - mainly because after you attempt this test, succeeding tests will seem much easier. LOL I now dub you Wilson XXXIII __________________ 1st in Kommisar's 2009 SM Tournament 1st in I Love You`s 2009 New Year`s Tournament 3rd in EnR's Mashfest '08 tournament 5th in Phynx's Unofficial FFR Tournament 9th in D3 of the 2008-2009 4th Official FFR Tournament 10th in D5 of the 2010 5th Official FFR Tournament 10th in D6 of the 2011-2012 6th Official FFR Tournament FMO AAA Count: 71 FGO AAA Count: 10 Bluearrowll = The Canadian player who can not detect awkward patterns. If it's awkward for most people, it's normal for Terry. If the file is difficult but super straight forward, he has issues. If he's AAAing a FGO but then heard that his favorite Hockey team was losing by a point, Hockey > FFR PS: Cool AAA's Terry - I Love You An Alarm Clock's Haiku beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep - ieatyourlvllol

03-26-2012, 07:40 PM	#8
Breakdown16 FFR Veteran Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,938	Re: I got a 3!!! I've heard about this competition a couple times before and it seems extremely challenging. How much math background is usually recommended before taking the test? __________________ Made by arrekusuof93 at Ye Olde Photoshop Shoppe Who remembers this thread? Brings back great memories XD

03-26-2012, 07:40 PM	#9
dag12 FFR Simfile Author Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 468	Re: I got a 3!!! It's an extremely difficult proof-based test. Kinda like the USAMO or IMO, but harder. (though those are for the high school kids haha.. Good times) Also, I'm confused how 50th percentile -> 33rd percentile is improvement haha. Or maybe my sarcasm detector is broken. Grats though! I took the test too

03-26-2012, 07:49 PM	#13
Breakdown16 FFR Veteran Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,938	Re: I got a 3!!! Ha ha, I think I saw qqwref on the list of award recipients. Congrats! And congrats to iironiic and dag12 for even taking it...really seems out of my league once I looked over the problems. Kind of scary knowing the median is zero... __________________ Made by arrekusuof93 at Ye Olde Photoshop Shoppe Who remembers this thread? Brings back great memories XD

03-26-2012, 07:50 PM	#14
MyRoseTearsBlood FFR Veteran Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 14 Billion Club, New York Age: 32 Posts: 698	Re: I got a 3!!! In before Rubix takes the test blindfolded. __________________ FUS RO DAH!

03-26-2012, 07:58 PM	#18
ichliebekase FFR Simfile Author Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 3,213	Re: I got a 3!!! I took something like the Putnam Exam years ago, it was optional back in high school to take a glimpse into the true hard stuff. Definitely no walk in the park xD very nice job :] __________________ Glorious Morning - Misc, level 48 We Will Fly - Dance 2, level 53 =.The Ocean.= - Dance 2, level 56, collab with krunkykai22 Garden Party - Dance, level 38

03-26-2012, 08:05 PM	#19
dag12 FFR Simfile Author Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 468	Re: I got a 3!!! Yeah, nth percentile means you did better than n% of the people. Crash course in math for the day! But yeah, I'm not sure how I did lol. I haven't checked, and I haven't been to my school's math club in ages haha. Last year was ~35 I think for me. In either case though, I wanna consider myself done with math. As a Chem major, the highest level of math I need is abstract algebra or real and complex analysis(even for like quantum field theory...) Our school produced a Putnam Fellow this year though! What a beast.

03-26-2012, 08:10 PM	#20
Guest15937 One-handed elite Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1,464	Re: I got a 3!!! And here I am, thinking the AIME is hard... __________________ The renegade has betrayed me.

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