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Mathematical Formulas & Concepts

This section provides essential mathematical formulas and concepts commonly used in competitive programming and algorithmic problem-solving. These formulas serve as quick references for geometric calculations, combinatorics, number theory, and other mathematical operations.

Techniques in This Category

Technique Description Link
Geometric Formulas Essential formulas for points, lines, circles, polygons, and 3D geometry. Geometric Formulas
Combinatorics & Counting Permutations, combinations, and counting principles for probability and enumeration problems. Combinatorics & Counting
Number Theory Prime numbers, modular arithmetic, GCD, LCM, and divisibility rules. Number Theory
Trigonometry Trigonometric functions, identities, and their applications in geometric problems. Trigonometry
Linear Algebra Matrix operations, determinants, and vector calculations. Linear Algebra

Quick Reference Tables

Common Mathematical Constants

Constant Value Description
π (pi) 3.14159265359 Ratio of circle's circumference to diameter
e 2.71828182846 Base of natural logarithm
φ (phi) 1.61803398875 Golden ratio
√2 1.41421356237 Square root of 2
√3 1.73205080757 Square root of 3

Common Angle Conversions

Degrees Radians Sin Cos Tan
0 0 1 0
30° π/6 1/2 √3/2 √3/3
45° π/4 √2/2 √2/2 1
60° π/3 √3/2 1/2 √3
90° π/2 1 0

When to Use Mathematical Formulas

These formulas are essential when: - Solving geometric problems involving shapes, distances, and angles - Working with probability and counting problems - Implementing number theory algorithms - Performing trigonometric calculations - Working with matrices and vectors

Common Applications

Geometric Problems

  • Distance Calculations: Finding distances between points, lines, and shapes
  • Area and Perimeter: Calculating areas and perimeters of various shapes
  • Angle Calculations: Determining angles between lines and vectors
  • 3D Geometry: Working with 3D coordinates and transformations

Counting Problems

  • Permutations: Arranging objects in order
  • Combinations: Selecting objects without regard to order
  • Probability: Calculating probabilities of events
  • Inclusion-Exclusion: Counting elements in unions of sets

Number Theory

  • Prime Factorization: Breaking numbers into prime factors
  • Modular Arithmetic: Working with remainders and congruences
  • GCD and LCM: Finding greatest common divisors and least common multiples
  • Divisibility: Checking if numbers divide evenly

Trigonometric Applications

  • Angle Calculations: Finding angles in triangles and polygons
  • Wave Functions: Modeling periodic phenomena
  • Coordinate Transformations: Converting between coordinate systems
  • Geometric Constructions: Building shapes with specific properties

Tips for Using Mathematical Formulas

  1. Precision: Be careful with floating-point precision in geometric calculations
  2. Edge Cases: Consider special cases like parallel lines, collinear points
  3. Optimization: Use integer arithmetic when possible to avoid floating-point errors
  4. Modular Arithmetic: Apply modular properties to prevent integer overflow
  5. Trigonometric Identities: Use identities to simplify complex expressions
  6. Coordinate Systems: Choose appropriate coordinate systems for the problem

Implementation Notes

  • Floating Point: Use double or long double for high precision
  • Integer Math: Use long long for large numbers
  • Modular Operations: Apply modulo at each step to prevent overflow
  • Trigonometric Functions: Use sin(), cos(), tan() from <cmath>
  • Mathematical Constants: Use M_PI, M_E from <cmath> or define your own