Thread: Performing well in other subjects using math

Hi there! : ) I posted this a while ago on a Norwegian forum, but didn't get far and gave it up. Now, however, there's a new school year closing up on me and I figured I might as well try and complete what I've started, so I went here - to a way more active forum.

On to the topic: I've set myself a goal - a goal for which to accomplish, I need to be an almost straight A student. I can do math, physics, chemistry etc. fine, but when it comes to history, social sciences etc. I might as well spend my time smoking to kill myself with cancer rather than actually reading, because I never do good enough on those tests.

Last spring, however, I read a book on cryptography. It was an amazing book, and furthermore it gave me what may be (provided I get it to work) THE most excellent idea I've ever had! I discovered that letters very efficiently can be converted to numbers and vice versa by hand, so I figured: If I can find a way to efficiently compress a long string of numbers (or even better, the letters themselves) I would be able to bring a "note" to tests without actually cheating!

So does anyone know how this can be done? Discuss!

Originally Posted by opsahl92

Hi there! : ) I posted this a while ago on a Norwegian forum, but didn't get far and gave it up. Now, however, there's a new school year closing up on me and I figured I might as well try and complete what I've started, so I went here - to a way more active forum.

On to the topic: I've set myself a goal - a goal for which to accomplish, I need to be an almost straight A student. I can do math, physics, chemistry etc. fine, but when it comes to history, social sciences etc. I might as well spend my time smoking to kill myself with cancer rather than actually reading, because I never do good enough on those tests.

Last spring, however, I read a book on cryptography. It was an amazing book, and furthermore it gave me what may be (provided I get it to work) THE most excellent idea I've ever had! I discovered that letters very efficiently can be converted to numbers and vice versa by hand, so I figured: If I can find a way to efficiently compress a long string of numbers (or even better, the letters themselves) I would be able to bring a "note" to tests without actually cheating!

So does anyone know how this can be done? Discuss!

Under what theory would that not be cheating?

Originally Posted by opsahl92

Hi there! : ) I posted this a while ago on a Norwegian forum, but didn't get far and gave it up. Now, however, there's a new school year closing up on me and I figured I might as well try and complete what I've started, so I went here - to a way more active forum.

On to the topic: I've set myself a goal - a goal for which to accomplish, I need to be an almost straight A student. I can do math, physics, chemistry etc. fine, but when it comes to history, social sciences etc. I might as well spend my time smoking to kill myself with cancer rather than actually reading, because I never do good enough on those tests.

Last spring, however, I read a book on cryptography. It was an amazing book, and furthermore it gave me what may be (provided I get it to work) THE most excellent idea I've ever had! I discovered that letters very efficiently can be converted to numbers and vice versa by hand, so I figured: If I can find a way to efficiently compress a long string of numbers (or even better, the letters themselves) I would be able to bring a "note" to tests without actually cheating!

So does anyone know how this can be done? Discuss!

If that's not cheating, then I've got to consult my dictionary because I totally have misinterpreted the meaning...

Bringing anything to a test is cheating, MEMORIZING a "long string of numbers" or whatever is a different matter.

Originally Posted by opsahl92

Hi there! : ) I posted this a while ago on a Norwegian forum, but didn't get far and gave it up. Now, however, there's a new school year closing up on me and I figured I might as well try and complete what I've started, so I went here - to a way more active forum.

On to the topic: I've set myself a goal - a goal for which to accomplish, I need to be an almost straight A student. I can do math, physics, chemistry etc. fine, but when it comes to history, social sciences etc. I might as well spend my time smoking to kill myself with cancer rather than actually reading, because I never do good enough on those tests.

Last spring, however, I read a book on cryptography. It was an amazing book, and furthermore it gave me what may be (provided I get it to work) THE most excellent idea I've ever had! I discovered that letters very efficiently can be converted to numbers and vice versa by hand, so I figured: If I can find a way to efficiently compress a long string of numbers (or even better, the letters themselves) I would be able to bring a "note" to tests without actually cheating!

So does anyone know how this can be done? Discuss!

As most people have to do with math and science you will have to do with the social sciences, just buckle down and learn it. A complicated method of avoiding just such a thing would most likely be a waste of time and effort, outside of the obvious ethical issues.

Originally Posted by AlephZero

Under what theory would that not be cheating?

I'd say that it would generally be considered cheating. I don't think there is much room for argument there.

Why go through all that trouble? You're going to have to spend time encrypting all your notes and when exam time comes around, you'll end up spending a good portion of your time deciphering what you've written. You're already in a time crunch when it comes to these types of exams.

Unless your class is simply regurgitation, then having your notes isn't going to be all that helpful. If you are expected to write essays in courses like literature or history, you are most likely going to be given a passage of some sort and be expected to analyze it. You'll need all the time you can get to understand what is being said and preparing an appropriate argument to be written. The skills that you've adopted over the year are going to help you succeed. Not your little cheat sheet.

You're better off just simply allocating more time to these subjects during the year if you want to pull off your A. Being an A student is what this is all about: knowing how much time that needs to be allocated to each subject on a case-by-case basis. If you've already familiar with all the topics in, say, your physics class, spend less time in it and devote more to your more time-consuming classes: organic chemistry, literary analysis, .. whatever it may be.

To VonNemo19:
Here you go: Cheating Definition | Definition of Cheating at Dictionary.com

I'm not sure about you, but I'm pretty much sure there was nothing about using compression in order to pack more info into simple rules to more easily be able to reproduce information.

Let's get back on topic shall we?

Originally Posted by opsahl92

To AlphZero: All of them! That's the point you dumbass!

To VonNemo19:
Here you go: Cheating Definition | Definition of Cheating at Dictionary.com

I'm not sure about you, but I'm pretty much sure there was nothing about using compression in order to pack more info into simple rules to more easily be able to reproduce information.

Let's get back on topic shall we?

Originally Posted by the dictionary

To Cheat:

to practice fraud or deceit: She cheats without regrets.
to violate rules or regulations: He cheats at cards.
to take an examination or test in a dishonest way, as by improper access to answers

I'd say that all of those would potentially apply in this situation.

Look up your university's policies. I'm sure that bringing any unauthorized materials of any kind (like some kind of "crib sheet") constitutes as cheating. Anyway, I think it's about time we close this thread.

It is cheating under definitions 5 and 6 in that link you posted

If an invigilator did not understand these notes surely they would be taken away in the interests of security.

Originally Posted by o_O

Look up your university's policies. I'm sure that bringing any unauthorized materials of any kind (like some kind of "crib sheet") constitutes as cheating. Anyway, I think it's about time we close this thread.

I agree that should be done, before things get out of control here.

Thread closed.