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Logic Bee

Description

The Logic Bee is a biannual contest. It is held each fall and spring semester. The event is open to all undergraduate Penn State students.

Everyone is welcome to spectate in-person.

Spring 2026 Dates

The spring 2026 Logic Bee took place on 4/24/26. The winner was Claire Lee.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must be a Penn State student. You may compete in a group (of 4 or fewer) or as an individual.

Qualification Stage

Since spring 2026 is the first ever bee, you qualify for the bee by signing up.

SP 2026 Competition Format

Contestents go head-to-head to determine the Grand Logician!

  1. You may compete as a group (4 or fewer) or as an individual.
  2. Groups compete in a knockout style (single-elimination) tournament.
  3. Contestants compete 1 vs.1 competition in a best-of-three match. If a group wins the first two battles, a third round is not necessary.
  4. Each group will receive a slip of paper with a sequent, e.g., \(A\rightarrow B, A\vdash B\), and a list of proof rules.
  5. Contestants do not receive the same sequent (to discourage peeking) but efforts are made to sure sequents are of the same difficulty.
  6. A round ends when a student correctly solves a proof or when 5 minutes has elapsed.
  7. A correct proof is a proof where every l ine is justified (extremely minor errors (judges discretion) are not penalized).
  8. Each round consists of both contestants attempting a proof. A round is won by the contestant who submits a correct proof first. If neither group completes the proof in 5 minutes, neither group wins the round.
  9. In the event that groups are tied, in round 3, and neither group can solve the proof, a winner is decided by the most complete correct proof as judged by the organizers.
  10. Proofs must be solved only using rules provided by the organizer.
  11. For consistency, proofs must be presented using a quasi-Fitch (Fitch with premises) format. Proofs in Gentzen (tree), Hilbert (axiomatic), Suppes-Lemmon, Jaskowski, and Existential Graphs are not accepted.
  12. No electronic devices (phones, smart glasses, etc.) or other materials are permitted.
  13. All judging decisions are final.
  14. Sequents are designed to be of comparable difficulty, though not identical.

Prizes for Spring 2026

The winning group will receive:

  • a single $50 Gift Card to Panera
  • 15 extra-credit points for each group member
  • Most importantly: the honor of being the Grand Logician!

Second place will receive:

  • 10 extra-credit points for each group member

Everyone else will receive:

  • 5 extra-credit points for each group member

Sample Question

  1. \(P\rightarrow Q, \neg L\rightarrow (Q\vee M), P\vee \neg L, R\wedge \neg M\vdash Q\vee (\neg Z\rightarrow L)\)

Previous Winners

  • Spring 2026: Claire Lee