The Reincarnated Science Whiz

Chapter 17: The Huaxia Math Olympiad Team

Next up was a teacher surnamed Huang, who was specifically in charge of intensive training in geometry. The IMO competition generally covers fields such as algebra, geometry, number theory, combinatorics, and probability theory. The National Olympiad Team has assigned specialized coaches for each of these competition disciplines. Unlike the CMO, each IMO exam consists of six problems, each worth 7 points, for a total of 42 points—a far cry from the 150-point exams common in China. However, this certainly does not mean the IMO exam is of lesser value; on the contrary, its value is exceptionally high. The IMO competition takes place over two days, with 4. 5 consecutive hours of testing each day to solve three problems. The event spans two days, and on each day, participants have 4. 5 hours to solve three problems, typically from 9:00 a. m. to 1:30 p. m. Typically, Problem 1 is the easiest, Problem 2 is of medium difficulty, and Problem 3 is the most challenging. All problems are selected from various topics within the high school mathematics curriculum, typically including combinatorics, number theory, geometry, algebra, and inequalities. To solve these problems, participants generally do not need advanced mathematical knowledge (although most do possess it, and in practice, a great deal of knowledge and skills beyond the curriculum is required); however, they typically need creative thinking and strong mathematical ability to find the solutions. The competition awards First Prize (Gold Medal), Second Prize (Silver Medal), and Third Prize (Bronze Medal)! These are further divided into individual gold medals and team gold medals! Mr. Huang, the geometry teacher, lectured for the entire morning. At lunchtime, the team members had a quick meal in the small cafeteria, and the session didn’t resume until 2:30 p. m. Qin Yuanqing used his lunch break to further reinforce his geometry knowledge; being called upon to serve as a professional coach for the National Olympiad Team, his expertise is beyond question. In the afternoon, another coach taught number theory. Number theory is a branch of pure mathematics that primarily studies the properties of integers. Integers can serve as solutions to equations. Based on research methods, number theory can be broadly divided into elementary number theory and advanced number theory. Elementary number theory employs elementary methods to study number theory; essentially, its research methods utilize the divisibility properties of the ring of integers and primarily include divisibility theory, congruence theory, and continued fraction theory. Advanced number theory, on the other hand, employs more sophisticated mathematical tools and broadly encompasses algebraic number theory, analytic number theory, and computational number theory, among others. Classic results in elementary number theory include the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic, Euclid’s proof of the infinity of primes, the Huaxia Remainder Theorem, Euler’s Theorem, Gauss’s Law of Mutual Inverse, the Quotient Theorem for Pythagorean triples, and the continued fraction method for solving Pell’s equation, among others. With a field of number theory this vast and comprehensive, the instructor doesn’t care whether you can understand it or absorb and digest the material—if you can’t keep up, that’s your problem. As for solving problems, you’re expected to work on them on your own in your free time, and if you don’t understand something, you’re expected to seek help on your own. Under such high-intensity training, two female team members couldn’t handle the physical strain the very next day; they came down with high fevers, collapsed, and were taken to the hospital by ambulance. Immediately afterward, the team leader announced that they had lost their eligibility and were eliminated from the competition. “Everyone, the IMO requires not only advanced knowledge but also strong mental and physical resilience. Otherwise, under high-pressure conditions, your mind and body will be the first to break down!” the team leader said coldly. The others exchanged glances. None of them wanted to withdraw at this point—that was out of the question. An opportunity to bring glory to the nation was right before their eyes; how could they possibly back out! Qin Yuanqing returned to the dormitory and closed his eyes slightly. Previously, he’d thought his physical condition was decent enough—after all, he wasn’t competing in a sports event or doing heavy labor. But now, Qin Yuanqing realized the importance of physical fitness. “This is the one—the Olympic National Athlete Physical Fitness Card!” Qin Yuanqing stared at the Olympic National Athlete Physical Fitness Card in the system store. In an instant, 1,000 Study Coins vanished. At the same time, Qin Yuanqing felt as if countless ants were gnawing at his body—the pain was simply unbearable. He stuffed a towel into his mouth and let out a bestial howl. This agonizing ordeal lasted a full hour before Qin Yuanqing finally sensed that the physical transformation had ended. “This…” Qin Yuanqing was completely dumbfounded. He felt his body had undergone a complete transformation—it was no exaggeration to say he’d been reborn. His muscles had developed to an extraordinary degree, and his entire body was brimming with explosive power. Qin Yuanqing even had the feeling that if he threw a punch at full force, he could probably kill someone! “So… I’ve turned into a muscle man!” Qin Yuanqing pinched the muscles on his arm, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Still, he had to admit that the dramatic improvement in his physical condition felt absolutely amazing. Qin Yuanqing even thought to himself that he could now walk down the streets of Beijing in short sleeves. Immediately afterward, Qin Yuanqing caught a whiff of a fishy, foul odor. He hurriedly got up and headed to the bathroom, where he took a hot shower. Afterward, his body felt incredibly refreshed. If anyone dared to call him a bookish scholar “weak enough to not even strangle a chicken,” Qin Yuanqing would definitely let them taste the iron fist of a muscle man! The intensity of the subsequent training didn’t let up one bit. While Qin Yuanqing, thanks to his vastly improved physical condition, managed to endure it with ease, the same couldn’t be said for the others. Even before the final exam, eight people had already been eliminated due to illness and fever. The rest of the group looked nothing like the healthy people they’d been before—they seemed on the verge of collapsing at any moment. “It’s finally over. I feel like if this had gone on for another half a month, I would’ve died,” Shen Yi said, his eyes listless and filled with exhaustion. In this CMO exam, Shen Yi ranked sixth and was also selected for the National Olympic Team training squad. As a student with a severe imbalance in his academic strengths, Shen Yi’s talent for math was undeniable. Every day, aside from attending classes, he spent his evenings frantically working through practice problems, sleeping less than six hours a day. He had lost a whole circle’s worth of weight compared to half a month ago. “Qin Yuanqing, you’re a total freak. You’re the only one left on the team who’s still full of energy, acting like nothing’s wrong.” Shen Yi stared at Qin Yuanqing as if he were a monster. In reality, they all knew that out of the six spots on the National Olympic Team, Qin Yuanqing had already secured one for himself. In the previous two exams, he had scored perfect marks—the only one on the team to do so. The rest of them were actually competing for the remaining five spots. “Shen Yi, this is the price you pay for not taking physical training seriously in the past!” Qin Yuanqing said with schadenfreude. Shen Yi was his best friend on the team; having spent every moment together over the past few days, the two had often discussed various issues and quickly formed a close bond. “Let me tell you, back at our school, I used to go for a morning run at exactly 6:00 a. m. every day—for an hour. I’d also go for a one-hour jog in the evening. That’s why my physical condition is better than yours.” Even in the classroom, he always wore a sweater, so no one could tell how his physique had changed. What nobody knew was that Qin Yuanqing’s body had undergone a complete transformation. If “Skinny Monkey” had been there to hear Qin Yuanqing say that, he would have spit right in Qin Yuanqing’s face—how shameless! Since starting high school, Qin Yuanqing had gone for a morning run only a handful of times. Actually, back in elementary school, Qin Yuanqing was in excellent physical shape. Because he often raided bird nests, went fishing, caught fish, and chopped firewood, he was incredibly strong. In sixth grade, he could even pull up a whole sugarcane plant—roots and all—with one hand in each hand. In middle school, however, he focused on his studies and did less physical labor, causing his physical fitness to decline. By his third year of middle school, he could only pull up a sugarcane stalk with both hands. By his freshman year of high school, he couldn’t even pull up a single stalk with both hands—his physical fitness had deteriorated drastically. “Just one more day to go, and it’ll be over!” Qin Yuanqing said. Tomorrow, they would take the final exam of this training camp—an exam that would determine who would be eliminated and who would make the national Olympic team. At 9:00 a. m. , Qin Yuanqing and the others began the exam. This test lasted only three hours, ending promptly at 12:00 p. m. , with a maximum score of 150 points. When the exam ended, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. All that remained was the announcement of individual scores that afternoon, along with the total scores from all three exams. The top six would be selected for the National Olympic Team to represent Huaxia at the IMO, where they would compete against international prodigies. If they could win a gold medal, it would bring endless glory—and honor to their entire families! “Qin Yuanqing, you scored a perfect score on this exam, with a total of 450 points across all three exams! You’ve been selected for the Huaxia Math Olympiad Team!” “Yang Teng, 110 points on this exam, for a total of 360 points across all three exams! You’ve been selected for the Huaxia Math Olympiad Team!” “Shen Yi, 125 points on this exam, with a total of 345 points across all three exams! Selected for the Huaxia Math Olympiad Team!” “Luo Wei, 115 points on this exam, with a total of 340 points across all three exams! Selected for the Huaxia Math Olympiad Team!” “Wu Jie, 110 points on this exam, for a total of 340 points across all three exams! Selected for the Huaxia Math Olympiad Team!” “Cui Yu, you scored 100 on this exam, for a total of 330 points across all three exams! You’ve been selected for the Huaxia Math Olympiad Team!” One by one, those who heard their names called cheered and jumped for joy. They had secured their spots and would represent Huaxia on the world stage to bring glory to their country. The team leader did not call out any other names, because doing so would have been pointless—it would have meant the others had been eliminated. Those who had been eliminated were all deeply dejected; the three remaining girls, in particular, slumped to the ground, hugged their knees, and buried their heads between them as they wept. Qin Yuanqing felt a pang of sadness. Everyone had worked so hard and given it their all. But the Huaxia Math Olympiad Team represented the nation’s strength and image; only the very best could be selected. They were going to bring honor to the country, not to sightsee. If their skills weren’t up to par, they had no choice but to be eliminated! It’s just like athletes competing in the Olympics—isn’t ability the ultimate criterion there? Those who are weaker are eliminated right from the start. In sports, the strongest reign supreme. In the world of mathematics, the same principle applies. Qin Yuanqing went up to each of them to offer comfort. After half a month of intensive training, they had all formed close bonds, and he truly couldn’t bear to see them so helpless. The team leader, however, stepped out of the classroom. This scene played out year after year; he had seen it far too many times. Yes, it’s brutal! But for the sake of national honor, it has to be this cruel! Everything comes down to ability; otherwise, how could Huaxia win one gold medal after another at the IMO! It’s not just mathematics—the essence of society as a whole, and indeed the entire world, is actually the same: the strong reign supreme! Might makes right!