I was quite wondered how 16 people of the same institution could think of the same solution which was good enough for a 14th position . Admins night want to have a look at this .
Many users use some famous online IDEs to write code and unfortunately the codes there are public so that others can copy. Now the reasons for codes to be similar are:
copied from such an IDE
some users here use multiple handles, from one they try and test and from other they just submit the final AC solution. I have made a list of few such users and will report it to get the duplicate handles banned permanently.
some users read the idea from similar sources so maybe they copied an idea but the code will be similar(might not be exactly the same)
UPDATE
4). another possibility sometimes is that the guys belong to same school/insitution so they discuss the problem together and then submit with their handles. (you have mentioned this in your question)
Seems like option 1 and 3 are a possibility but when you will have a look at their solutions for cylinder , you will rule it out. Also the 3rd option is ruled out since the variables are declared alike .
for 3rd possibility, some times at stackoverflow they post an idea implemented in their form so users might just copy that part and extend it. Thats why I added that code might not be exactly same but similar.
U see this is the “Fault” of Long challenges… it gives room to discussion of solutions among peers.
I am not opposing Long challenges in any way… I owe a lot to them but these things happens all the time.
@nirajs u can’t say anything about this as i know many users initially they play with their second handle, and at the very last day they use their regular profile…
I’m curious as to the use of this. It’s not like WA’s or TLE’s have a bearing on their rating or ranking of whatever(AFAIK). What’s the use in doing this?
@ethreal it all about prestige…some think that if they r trying some problem and getting WA or TLE then their prestige hurt if it has been seen by some of their friend…
@ab1234 and @ethreal >> or maybe they wanted a greater success rate in the other profile. To minimize the difference between Successful Submissions and Total Submissions
@ab1234 In a long contest all that matters that you learn how to solve a new problem ,implement a new data structure or learn something new. The number of WA’s you get neither results in any penalty and I don’t know anyone personally who makes fun of someone if he/she is getting a WA or TLE.
I just edit my code.
In LightOJ, If any body solve a problem, he/she can see other’s solution. However, I first did it in hust & I shared my code there. http://acm.hust.edu.cn/vjudge/problem/viewSource.action?id=1017482
Anyone can see my code from here & If anyone copies my code from here, I am not responsible for that.
some users have also cheated chefgame and submitted their codes successfully ,please match the codes of chefgame by some smart matching pattern and cancel the submission of those people whose codes get same,this is also noticed in cylinders
please undo this mistake otherwise my trust on codechef would lift up
Actually this is clever idea. If you are unsure whether you will solve enough problems to increase your rating you could try second account and if in the end you find that the total number of solved problems is fine you submit under your main account. Otherwise you skip the contest to not hurt your rating.
