• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 19:40
CEST 01:40
KST 08:40
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
TL.net Map Contest #22 - Voting & Ladder Map Selection1Code S Season 2 (2026) - RO8 Preview4[ASL21] Finals Preview: Two Legacies21Code S Season 2 (2026) - RO12 Preview2herO wins GSL Code S Season 1 (2026)7
Community News
StarCraft II 5.0.16 PTR Patch Notes may 26th89Weekly Cups (May 18-25): MaxPax wins doubles0Crank Gathers Season 4: BW vs SC2 Team League4Weekly Cups (May 11-17): Classic wins double1Code S Season 1 (2026) - RO8 Results2
StarCraft 2
General
StarCraft II 5.0.16 PTR Patch Notes may 26th Changing from 12 to 8 is just asking for StarCraft TL Poll: How do you feel about the 5.0.16 PTR balance changes? Weekly Cups (May 11-17): Classic wins double TL.net Map Contest #22 - Voting & Ladder Map Selection
Tourneys
GSL Code S Season 2 (2026) Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament Crank Gathers Season 4: BW vs SC2 Team League GSL Code S Season 1 (2026) Maestros of The Game 2 announcement and schedule !
Strategy
[G] Having the right mentality to improve
Custom Maps
[D]RTS in all its shapes and glory <3 [A] Nemrods 1/4 players
External Content
Welcome to the External Content forum Mutation # 527 Hell Train The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 526 Rubber and Glue
Brood War
General
Soma's ASL Finals Review FlaShFTW vs A.Alm Grudge Match Event VPN experiences Every Matchup's Top 5 Winrates (all ASLs & KSLs) BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/
Tourneys
[ASL21] Grand Finals [Megathread] Daily Proleagues Escore Tournament StarCraft Season 2 [BSL22] WB Final & LB Semis - Saturday 21:00 CEST
Strategy
Any training maps people recommend? Muta micro map competition [G] Hydra ZvZ: An Introduction Fighting Spirit mining rates
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread ZeroSpace Megathread Path of Exile Dawn of War IV
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Vanilla Mini Mafia Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas TL Mafia Community Thread Five o'clock TL Mafia
Community
General
Russo-Ukrainian War Thread US Politics Mega-thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Trading/Investing Thread Dating: How's your luck?
Fan Clubs
The herO Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread McBoner: A hockey love story TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 Formula 1 Discussion
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread Facing Challenges in Mobile App Development
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Customization Drives Loyalty…
TrAiDoS
Why RTS gamers make better f…
gosubay
ramps on octagon
StaticNine
ASL S21 English Commentary…
namkraft
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 4129 users

[SC2B Key Contest]Supply Depot Forts

Blogs > yh8c4
Post a Reply
yh8c4
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
108 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-04-13 12:51:57
April 13 2010 09:40 GMT
#1
CONTEST IS OVER! WINNER: forti

I have a unused friend invite key, which you are able to win by being the first to answer the following question:

First we need some definitions:

A supply depot fort is a square center area surrounded by an arbitrary number of supply depot rings. A ring either completely surrounds the center area or another ring.

Example 1 (just treat submerged depots as if there were no depots at that location)

Let's say your fort must be made of exactly eight supply depots, then the only valid configuration is this one:

[image loading]

---

Example 2:
If you use 32 depots, there are two valid configurations:

[image loading]

[image loading]

---

We define s to be the number of used supply depots and nC(s) to be the number of valid supply depot fort configurations made of s supply depots (e.g. nC(32) = 2).

Furthermore let's say you have exactly one million supply depots at your disposal and you can choose any amount x of those supply depots to build a fort.

We define f(n) to be the number of different x for which nC(x) = n.

Example:
+ Show Spoiler +

'f(13) = 123' means: there are 123 different values for x, so that for each of those x there are exactly 13 distinct, valid supply depot fort configurations.

f(13) is not necessarily 123, I just made that up, but to check if you're on the right way, here is a hint:

+ Show Spoiler +

Calculate f(15). edit: f(15) = 832
Multiply the result with 123456.
Go here
Enter this text:

GxD4AhayOeDnC8oY7wKGVhRJ3BTPYiTxfomXV4SLiWTpSHmxa3C7+/v3ONNbTbeRZ7ZEhG0xHMV6R5aU0CL1gA==

Use what you calculated as password and decrypt.
Decrypted text should be 'correct'




Here comes the questions worth the beta key:

What is the sum of f(1)+ f(2) + ... + f(9) + f(10)?

Answer
+ Show Spoiler +

209566

forti's (annotated) c++ solution

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
//standard C libraries

int array[1000005];
//array that stores the number of solutions using 1-1000000 supply depots

int main()
{
memset(array,0,sizeof(array));
//setting everything to 0 initially

for(int i=1;i<=249999;i++)
//the width of center blank square AKA, i am assuming an
//i x i square. 249999 is the maximum width possible with
//1000000 supply depots used (1000000-4)/4
{
int sum=0;
//the number of boxes used at the moment

//the following section of the code basically adds
//"supply depot layers" to the center square 1 by 1
for(int j=i;;j+=2)
{
int k=j*4+4;
sum+=k;
if(sum>1000000) break;
array[sum]++;
}
}
int temp,c;
c=0;

//the final part computes f(1) to f(10) from what was
// found previously
for(temp=1;temp<=10;temp++)
{
for(int i=1;i<=1000000;i++)
{
if(array[i]==temp)c++;
}
}
printf("%d\n",c);
system("PAUSE");
}



---

Some details:

- My bnet account is on Europe and I don't know if the person using the friend key will also have to use a european account. Maybe someone can clarify that for me.

- I not only want the correct answer, I also want a little explanation why your answer is correct (source code, or just a short text describing the way you arrived at the solution)

- You can either post your entry in this blog or send me a pm.

- You are not limited to one guess, but please be reasonable and don't just bomb me with all integers from 1-100000 or something

- I will check this thread and pms periodically and let you know when I checked a possible solution

- The problem is kinda difficult, but I'm rather mediocre at maths and I was able to solve it after (quite) some time so I'm confident someone will find the solution.

Good luck!

edit1: just some definition clarifications
edit2: we have a winner. edited in the solution

***
CaucasianAsian
Profile Blog Joined September 2005
Korea (South)11597 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-04-13 09:50:01
April 13 2010 09:49 GMT
#2
why'd you close your other blog? meaning what was the answer to the other question?
Calendar@ Fish Server: `iOps]..Stark
Moletrap
Profile Blog Joined July 2007
United States1297 Posts
April 13 2010 10:05 GMT
#3
Awesome contest!
aka Moletrap
forti
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Singapore9 Posts
April 13 2010 10:14 GMT
#4
+ Show Spoiler +

my answer is 209566
using:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int array[1000005];
int main()
{
memset(array,0,sizeof(array));
for(int i=1;i<=249999;i++)//center square
{
int sum=0;
for(int j=i;;j+=2)
{
int k=j*4+4;
sum+=k;
if(sum>1000000) break;
array[sum]++;
}
}
int temp,c;
c=0;
for(temp=1;temp<=10;temp++)
{
for(int i=1;i<=1000000;i++)
{
if(array[i]==temp)c++;
}
}
printf("%d\n",c);
system("PAUSE");
}

yh8c4
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
108 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-04-13 10:54:56
April 13 2010 10:41 GMT
#5
the contest is already over, forti is the new owner of the beta key.

For anyone still interested in solving the question:

The described problem is a obfuscated version of this, so if you open an account there you can check your solution there (or you could just peek into forti's spoiler)

Seems like i kinda underestimated the possibility to brute force, but when I worked on that problem, my main difficulties were understanding and abstracting the problem and coming up with an algorithm. forti was much faster on that part, and thus is a worthy winner imo. Have fun playing sc2.

Btw, the first problem i posted i didn't paraphrase at all (just screenshotted this), and didn't realize that because of that the solution was just one google search away, and that's why the first contest was cancelled.

Anyways, I'm out of beta keys, so I guess this can also be closed now
tyCe
Profile Joined March 2010
Australia2542 Posts
April 13 2010 10:46 GMT
#6
Damn it! I chose dinner over this and I paid the price.
Betrayed by EG.BuK
tarpman
Profile Joined February 2009
Canada723 Posts
April 13 2010 10:55 GMT
#7
I spent some time thinking about an elegant mathematical solution. Then I put that aside and wrote a bruteforce version very similar to forti's in Python... but it was still running when forti won damn Python's slowness!

forti, gg! nice first post!
Saving the world, one kilobyte at a time.
Zona
Profile Blog Joined May 2007
40426 Posts
April 13 2010 10:59 GMT
#8
heh, I was watching KT vs STX and only saw this after the second set - like tarpman, had something in python going.

But then again I don't really crave a beta key close to as much as others here, so it's fine.
"If you try responding to those absurd posts every day, you become more damaged. So I pay no attention to them at all." Jung Myung Hoon (aka Fantasy), as translated by Kimoleon
yh8c4
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
108 Posts
April 13 2010 11:07 GMT
#9
i'm quite surprised there are still so many people around here wanting a beta key. I had this key sitting in my inbox for quite some time, but for some reason i thought there wasn't much demand anymore
madnessman
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
United States1581 Posts
April 13 2010 11:17 GMT
#10
On April 13 2010 20:07 yh8c4 wrote:
i'm quite surprised there are still so many people around here wanting a beta key. I had this key sitting in my inbox for quite some time, but for some reason i thought there wasn't much demand anymore


You should probably donate it to one of those poor starcraft players who didn't get a key *cough madnessman cough*....
yh8c4
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
108 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-04-13 11:19:31
April 13 2010 11:18 GMT
#11
On April 13 2010 20:07 yh8c4 wrote:
i'm quite surprised there are still so many people around here wanting a beta key. I had this key sitting in my inbox for quite some time, but for some reason i thought there wasn't much demand anymore


Perguvious
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
United States1783 Posts
April 13 2010 11:53 GMT
#12
On April 13 2010 19:14 forti wrote:
+ Show Spoiler +

my answer is 209566
using:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int array[1000005];
int main()
{
memset(array,0,sizeof(array));
for(int i=1;i<=249999;i++)//center square
{
int sum=0;
for(int j=i;;j+=2)
{
int k=j*4+4;
sum+=k;
if(sum>1000000) break;
array[sum]++;
}
}
int temp,c;
c=0;
for(temp=1;temp<=10;temp++)
{
for(int i=1;i<=1000000;i++)
{
if(array[i]==temp)c++;
}
}
printf("%d\n",c);
system("PAUSE");
}


*sigh* I just didn't understand any of that
krndandaman
Profile Joined August 2009
Mozambique16569 Posts
April 13 2010 12:06 GMT
#13
--- Nuked ---
josemb40
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
Peru611 Posts
April 13 2010 14:19 GMT
#14
congrats
wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
GreEny K
Profile Joined February 2008
Germany7312 Posts
April 13 2010 15:07 GMT
#15
On April 13 2010 21:06 krndandaman wrote:
i've entered around 10 competitions for a sc2 beta key rofl


Ditto, maybe even more... Everyone's getting keys except me!! I even know people who won more than one some ever 3 but I still don't have one
Why would you ever choose failure, when success is an option.
krndandaman
Profile Joined August 2009
Mozambique16569 Posts
April 13 2010 15:11 GMT
#16
--- Nuked ---
ReketSomething
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
United States6012 Posts
April 13 2010 18:16 GMT
#17
One of my favorite contests so far ^^
Jaedong :3
jimminy_kriket
Profile Blog Joined February 2007
Canada5533 Posts
April 13 2010 18:47 GMT
#18
pretty neat
life of lively to live to life of full life thx to shield battery
3FFA
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
United States3931 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-04-13 21:07:41
April 13 2010 21:06 GMT
#19
wtf. This seems like a contest at school. I don't get to know about it until its already over/too late.

edit: I mean, this happened when I was asleep.... well I guess I've taken "you snooze you loose" to a new level lol.
"As long as it comes from a pure place and from a honest place, you know, you can write whatever you want."
Kenpachi
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
United States9908 Posts
April 13 2010 22:39 GMT
#20
On April 14 2010 00:11 krndandaman wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 14 2010 00:07 GreEny K wrote:
On April 13 2010 21:06 krndandaman wrote:
i've entered around 10 competitions for a sc2 beta key rofl


Ditto, maybe even more... Everyone's getting keys except me!! I even know people who won more than one some ever 3 but I still don't have one


facebook's about to release a few more keys in 2hours on the starcraft fan page.

it's a F5 refreshing fest.

join the club. Were all Beta key contest failures
Nada's body is South Korea's greatest weapon.
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 20m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
PiGStarcraft849
SpeCial 173
Nina 9
FoxeR 0
StarCraft: Brood War
Britney 11547
NaDa 26
ajuk12(nOOB) 21
League of Legends
Doublelift5634
JimRising 543
Counter-Strike
Fnx 1766
Other Games
summit1g11866
ViBE48
kaitlyn45
JuggernautJason28
minikerr5
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick327
BasetradeTV277
Counter-Strike
PGL206
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
[ Show 12 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• musti20045 45
• davetesta18
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Upcoming Events
Replay Cast
20m
CranKy Ducklings5
RSL Revival
7h 20m
Lambo vs Rogue
Clem vs TBD
herO vs TBD
Maestros of the Game
13h 20m
SHIN vs Nicoract
Rogue vs Gerald
ByuN vs Shameless
Cure vs TriGGeR
OSC
13h 20m
IPSL
16h 20m
Dragon vs Artosis
dxtr13 vs Hawk
BSL
19h 20m
Wardi Open
1d 12h
Monday Night Weeklies
1d 16h
Replay Cast
2 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
2 days
[ Show More ]
WardiTV Spring Champion…
2 days
Maestros of the Game
2 days
The PondCast
3 days
Kung Fu Cup
3 days
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
3 days
Maestros of the Game
3 days
Replay Cast
4 days
Replay Cast
4 days
WardiTV Spring Champion…
4 days
Maestros of the Game
4 days
Replay Cast
5 days
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
5 days
Maestros of the Game
5 days
Replay Cast
6 days
Solar vs Classic
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Escore Tournament S2: King of Kings
2026 GSL S1
Heroes Pulsing #1

Ongoing

2026 KK StarCraft Pro League
BSL Season 22
IPSL Spring 2026
KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 2
KK 2v2 League Season 1
Acropolis #4
CSCL: Masked Kings S4
YSL S3
SCTL 2026 Spring
WardiTV Spring 2026
Maestros of the Game 2
2026 GSL S2
RSL Revival: Season 5
Murky Cup 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 2
CS Asia Championships 2026
Asian Champions League 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
PGL Astana 2026
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026

Upcoming

BSL 22 Non-Korean Championship
CSLAN 4
Blizzard Classic Cup 2026
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
CranK Gathers Season 4: BW vs SC2 Team League
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
Heroes Pulsing #3
Heroes Pulsing #2
Esports World Cup 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer Qual
Stake Ranked Episode 3
XSE Pro League 2026
IEM Cologne Major 2026
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.