The second round of the competition was about ingenuity. To put it bluntly, it was about arithmetic, which was mathematics.
This round of the competition was not hosted by Fu Yuewen, but by another old man behind him.
"I am the Minister of Works, Zhang Heng. I will be hosting the second round of the competition. There are three questions, which have been placed in front of you. You have two incense sticks to burn. Please answer the questions." Zhang Heng did not seem to be good with words.
At this time, everyone had already taken their seats. In front of everyone was a test paper with three math questions neatly written on it.
Yan Yiqun did not immediately look at the test paper. Instead, he looked at Yang Xuan who was behind him.
After a few glances, a hint of provocation appeared in his eyes. Then, he looked at the test paper.
Yang Xuan ignored him and looked directly at the first question.
"Today, there are chickens and rabbits in the same cage. There are thirty-five heads on top and ninety-four feet on the bottom. How many are the chickens and rabbits?"
Yang Xuan almost laughed out loud. Chickens and rabbits in the same cage were problems that even fifth graders in his previous life could solve. How could it be difficult for a serious undergraduate like him?
After quickly answering the question, he looked at the second question.
"Today, there are two people, A and B, walking opposite each other. One of the dogs and A set out at the same time. When it meets B, it turns back, and when it meets A, it turns back …"
Some numbers were given at the end. Yang Xuan glanced at it. If he remembered correctly, this question was a fifth grader's math problem.
It seemed that the level of the person who came up with this question was at fifth grader's level.
However, he was troubled.
It was not that he did not know how to solve this question. What he was worried about was how to translate the various mathematical symbols from his previous life into the words of this world.
After a long time, he finished the question. He looked around and took in everyone's expressions.
Some were frowning, some were gritting their teeth, and some even threw their pens on the table and started to stare blankly.
Yang Xuan laughed to himself.
The ancients valued literature over reason. The development of mathematics was relatively lagging behind. Even if he had forgotten most of the mathematics knowledge that his teachers in his previous life taught him, the parts that he left behind were probably still better than the people in this world.
After sighing, he looked at the third question.
With one look, his brows furrowed slightly.
It wasn't that the third question was difficult, but that the third question was actually two questions.
"There is a pillar today, but I don't know how tall it is. How do I measure it? There is also a circle. If we know its length, how do we know its width? "
Proportional equations and the diameter of a circle?
These two points popped up in Yang Xuan's mind.
Proportional equations and finding the diameter of a circle were both knowledge points in the sixth grade of primary school. It was one grade higher than the fifth grade. His standard had improved.
After thinking for a while, he picked up the brush and wrote a few words on the scroll:
The shadow of the pillar could be seen through the measurement.
A circle has a circumference, and when measuring the circumference, it must be straight.
If these two simple sentences were placed on Earth, even a sixth-grade elementary school student would be able to understand them. However, in this world … no one would be able to understand them.
Yang Xuan keenly sensed that the last two questions were the key to the second round of the competition.
After writing these two sentences, he stood up and left his seat.
At this time, the people in the hall were still racking their brains. When they saw him stand up, they were all shocked.
Yan Yichun was a little stunned. At this time, he was thinking about the second question and had some ideas. He didn't expect Yang Xuan to have already handed in his paper.
Could it be that he was just fooling around? He thought maliciously.
He truly could not believe that Yang Xuan was able to answer these three questions that were extremely difficult even for him in such a short amount of time.
Absolutely impossible!
He secretly gritted his teeth, collected his thoughts, and concentrated on thinking.
Wang Zhuo also looked at Yang Xuan, his eyes flickering.
He was also a little uncertain about Yang Xuan.
On the other hand, Jin Chengfeng just glanced at Yang Xuan slightly, then lowered his head and pondered.
Everyone had different reactions, but they were all a little surprised by Yang Xuan's early submission of his paper.
Zhang Heng and a few others looked at each other, then walked directly to Yang Xuan.
"Young Master Ren, you …"
"It's too easy, I've finished answering." Yang Xuan pretended to be impatient.
Zhang Heng's nose was almost crooked from anger. These three questions were all set by him. Even he would have to spend a lot of effort to answer them. Especially the third question, it involved a lot of things. Until now, no one had been able to solve it. He put it on the paper to see if there were any new ideas. He didn't expect anyone to be able to answer it.
In a fit of anger, he directly picked up Yang Xuan's paper and looked at it.
After a few glances, his face completely changed.
Yang Xuan's answers to the first two questions were completely correct.
"This is impossible!" Zhang Heng was shocked to the extreme. Even if it was him, without knowing the specific method, it would take him a lot of effort to solve the first two questions.
However, Yang Xuan was able to answer them completely in an extremely short period of time. Furthermore, he couldn't understand the method he used. He was afraid that Yang Xuan's attainment in algebra had left him far behind.
In a state of shock, he took Yang Xuan's paper and returned to the others. After a brief explanation, the few elders looked over.
Then, under the gaze of the few people, Zhang Heng turned around and went behind the screen.
After a long while, he came out again and went to Yang Xuan's side. "Young Master Ren, please follow me."
Then, he led Yang Xuan directly behind the screen.
Everyone in the hall looked at each other, not knowing what to do.
After going around the screen, Yang Xuan realized that there was actually no one behind the screen, but a door.
As Zhang Heng pushed the door open and entered, he saw a relatively small room. At this time, there were already a few people guarding the room. There was also a door with a curtain hanging on the door, so the situation inside could not be seen clearly.
Yang Xuan originally wanted to use his divine thoughts to scan the room, but after thinking about it, he decided against it.
"Young Master is talented and outstanding in literature. I didn't expect you to have such deep attainments in algebra as well."
An old female voice came from behind the curtain. She spoke slowly and peacefully, but it was filled with an irresistible tone.
Yang Xuan's heart trembled. This voice seemed to contain a trace of the power of heaven and earth, causing his blood to almost freeze.
After circulating his spirit qi slightly and dispelling this strange feeling, he slowly said, "You flatter me!"
He had a feeling that the woman behind the curtain definitely knew his identity.
"Young Master, you said that you can determine the length of the shadow and measure its height. May I know the specifics?" the person behind the curtain asked.
Yang Xuan did not try to hide anything. "Choose a sunny day and place a wooden stick on the ground. Measure the length of the stick's shadow, and then measure the length of the pillar's shadow. When the length of the stick is times the length of the shadow, it will be the same as the length of the pillar."
The room fell into silence. After a long while, Zhang Heng slapped his thigh. "That's right, why didn't I think of that?"
The person behind the curtain asked, "Is it possible?"
Zhang Heng was so excited that his face turned red. "It's possible, it's possible. No, no, no, it's definitely possible."
He ran in front of Yang Xuan and excitedly grabbed Yang Xuan's hand and shook it violently. "Thank you, thank you …"
Yang Xuan could understand how he felt. People who studied divination like this were all somewhat stubborn. The excitement and joy of having a difficult problem that they had racked their brains on easily solved was something that normal people could not imagine.
The person behind the curtain sighed and said, "Young Master, you are indeed talented. Then, how about the method of determining the length of a circle?"
Yang Xuan smiled but did not answer. He just smiled and did not speak.
This involved the ratio of a circle. How could he easily tell others about it?
The person behind the curtain saw Yang Xuan's smile and understood that he was waiting for a good price. "Young Master, what do you want?"
"What do you want in exchange?" Yang Xuan did not beat around the bush and went straight to the point.
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