Question

Gabriel Nivasch’s “multi-stack” algorithm identifies these structures. An unsolved problem that asks whether these structures produce a double cover reduces to asking about “snarks.” These structures cause Kahn’s algorithm to output an empty list, since they prevent topological sortings. (10[1])Pollard’s algorithm for integer factorization is named for the eventual resemblance to one of these structures over time. Gosper’s algorithm for detecting these structures improves upon another algorithm that creates a leading and trailing pointer called a “hare” and “tortoise” and is named for Floyd. Detecting these structures by checking already-visited nodes ensures that DFS halts. The [emphasize] (10[1])absence of these structures defines the “A” in a (10[1])DAG. For 10 points, name these paths in a graph that eventually lead back to their start. (10[3])■END■

ANSWER: cycles [accept word forms such as cyclic; accept circular or circuital or loops]
<Texas A, Other Science>
= Average correct buzz position

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Buzzes

PlayerTeamOpponentBuzz PositionValue
Rasheeq AzadUNC BVirginia A3810
Ivan StanisavljevicDukeLiberty C9610
Josh SchmidtLiberty AUNC C10510
Sam KungUNC DLiberty B12210
Eric ChangVirginia Tech AWake Forest12210
Derek AldridgeWilliam & MarySouth Carolina12210

Summary

Lower Mid-Atlantic2025-02-01Y6100%0%0%100.83
Midwest2025-02-01Y6100%0%50%111.17
Northeast2025-02-01Y4100%0%0%83.00
Overflow2025-02-01Y4100%0%25%105.75
Pacific Northwest2025-02-01Y2100%0%0%104.00
UK2025-02-01Y1090%0%20%101.33
Upper Mid-Atlantic2025-02-01Y888%0%0%79.86