[Coco] Project Euler and the Coco

[Arthur Flexser]

Mark,

While I agree that b > (500-a), (and nice work to you, too), b must also be
greater than or equal to a.  So, for maximum efficiency, the lower bound of b
should be either a or (500-a), whichever is greater.  That is, use a as the
lower bound if a > 250, and (500-a) as the lower bound otherwise, to save yet
more iterations when a is between 250 and 333.

Art


On Sat, 15 Nov 2008, Mark McDougall wrote:


> Arthur Flexser wrote:

> 

> > The ascending length requirement means that B must

> > take up no more than half of the remaining board, or (1000-A)/2.  

> 

> (a^2 + b^2)= c^2

> (a^2 + b^2) = (a+b)^2 - 2ab = c^2

> therefore, a+b > c

> a + b > (1000 - a - b)

> 2a + 2b > 1000

> (a+b) > 500

> ie, b > (500-a)

> 

> and using Arthur's observation (nice work)

> 

> FOR B=500-A TO (1000-A)/2

> 

> reduces the number of iterations to find the solution to 10,174 from the 

> original 66,174 iterations - a massive 85% reduction!

> 

> Regards,

> 

> -- 

> |              Mark McDougall                | "Electrical Engineers do it

> |  <http://members.iinet.net.au/~msmcdoug>   |   with less resistance!"

> 

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