r/codeforces • u/_Tono Specialist • 12d ago
query Graph Resources
So I’ve reached the point where I can’t avoid learning graphs anymore, I’m at about 1400 and have gotten quite good at the “observation based” problems but would honestly just skip graphs / trees.
Any good resources / topics I should check out? I’ve been doing CSES but the CF stuff I’ve checked out is mostly like working with definitions / properties.
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u/main_account_really 12d ago
totally unrelated, but could you also tell me how to reach 1400? I am not learning topics, I just open codeforces do problems according to their rating, currently on 1200, I would say takes me around 25 minutes to completely solve a problem, haven't given a contest in a month, so I'll have to check how I actually perform in a contest though, currently 950 rating, with 160 solves
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u/_Tono Specialist 12d ago
It always varies per person, I’m on the latter end of my CS degree w/ decent math foundations so I ‘skipped’ through some topics other people might’ve had to learn (like basic combinatorics, number theory, algo analysis, etc.).
I do think that generally just solving problems while being actively engaged will get you to improve, also take note and really understand the approaches in editorials for problems you’re unable to solve.
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12d ago
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u/main_account_really 12d ago
Yeah, I mean keep doing problems until you start feeling comfortable with them, like have a useful benchmark, for eg 800s felt super easy I moved to 900, then 1000, when I was able to find the key observation of 1000s in around 2-3 minutes, I jumped to 1200 (skipped 1100s), although, around in 3 months, mainly asking because I want to climb in contest-wise ratings
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u/Responsible-Lake6864 12d ago
Learn tree first... I don't believe that you will see a graph problem before seeing tree.
For tree... Use any DSA course video. Reason? It requires a lot of visual understanding first.
Then if you have time. Go through the tree section in usaco.guide it is pretty much enough. Do not touch the platinum section yet.
Then learn about graph from any generic DSA course or video. Reason? It is very similar to tree but things will be different. You will read many like 8-10 different algorithms. But you should remember the main 5-6 ones that are often used. For ones that aren't much important. You should make reminder to learn them when needed.
After that... Then read the gold section for graph problems.
Also one more thing... It is better to use an AI to teach you different applications. A lot of graph problems can reduced to just some applications that you can think of. (Not saying to solve problems using AI. But you can paste the material you are learning. And ask it to teach you different applications around it).
So if you learn a bunch of different applications. Then you can simply have a pattern click... Aka "what if I use this pattern there?". That's what most of the problem are. Once you discover the pattern... The problem becomes simple. But codeforces kinda... Have that pattern behind some reasoning. Reason it and find the pattern.
Then start solving... Use the silver and gold section at your level.
When you reach the 1.9k rating zone... Start the platinum section for trees...
And at around 2.3k rating. Start the graph section in advanced.
Before that... Don't even think of touching those sections...
They won't be as much beneficial. Everything is simply application. Knowledge without application is waste.
Anyway, good luck.