“Most coders know LeetCode. Fewer know Project Euler. But those who do? They think deeper, optimise faster, and solve smarter.”
📚 A Tale of Two Coders
Imagine two coders:
- Alex solves classic interview-style problems on LeetCode.
- Riya prefers tackling math-based programming puzzles on Project Euler.
A few months in, Riya is noticeably better at optimisation, pattern spotting, and problem-solving.
What changed?
👉 She trained with Project Euler.
🧠 What Exactly Is Project Euler?
Project Euler is a collection of 800+ curated problems that blend math, logic, and programming.
Each problem challenges you to:
- Spot patterns 🧩
- Think algorithmically 🧠
- Solve problems without hand-holding 🎯
Unlike most platforms, it doesn’t give you test cases — it gives you a riddle.
🪜 Your 4-Phase Project Euler + DSA Roadmap
🌱 Phase 1: Build Your Foundation (Problems 1–10)
Start with core programming concepts: loops, conditions, and math patterns.
🧩 Example:
Problem 1 – Sum of Multiples of 3 and 5
How many numbers below 1000 are divisible by 3 or 5?
✅ Skills: loops, modulus, arithmetic optimisation
🌿 Phase 2: Master Core DSA (Problems 11–40)
Here, problems require recursion, memoization, and array logic.
🧩 Example:
Problem 14 – Longest Collatz Sequence
Which number under 1 million produces the longest sequence?
✅ Skills: HashMaps, recursion, memoisation
🌳 Phase 3: Think Algorithmically (Problems 41–80)
Time to introduce sieves, prefix sums, and backtracking.
🧩 Example:
Problem 50 – Consecutive Prime Sum
Find the prime below 1 million that can be written as the longest sum of consecutive primes.
✅ Skills: Modular math, optimisation, big number handling
✅ Skills: Prime sieve, sliding window, prefix sum
🌲 Phase 4: Engineer Like a Mathematician (81+)
This level is serious: matrix DP, modular exponentiation, and combinatorics.
🧩 Example:
Problem 97 – Large Non-Mersenne Prime
What are the last 10 digits of a massive prime number expression?
💻 Which Language Should You Use?
| Language | Why It’s Good |
|---|
-------------------------------------------------------------|
| Python | Easy syntax, built-in big integers, math libs |
| C++ | Performance-heavy problems, manual control |
| Java | Strong typing, BigInteger support |
| Haskell | Elegant solutions, great for math-heavy logic |
🏆 Best Choice: Python — it’s perfect for Euler’s math + logic challenges.
🔥 Why Most People Ignore Project Euler (And Why You Shouldn’t)
Common reasons:
- “Too mathematical.”
- “Not practical for interviews.”
💡 Truth: Project Euler teaches you optimization, reasoning, and how to build your own test cases — skills that ace interviews and improve real-world coding.
Euler makes you solve smarter, not just faster.
🎯 Getting Started (Today!)
- Go to projecteuler.net
- Create an account.
- Start with Problem 1.
- Write your code, refactor, and reflect:
- What DSA did you use?
- How did you optimize?
- What patterns did you discover?
✅ Bonus: Post your solutions weekly on GitHub or LinkedIn for habit + portfolio building.
🧩 Final Thoughts
If you want to:
- Crack interviews
- Think like an algorithm designer
- Train for the ICPC/Codeforces level
… then Project Euler is your secret weapon.
Start with 1 problem per day. Let the puzzle teach you.
💬 Let's Talk
- What’s the first Euler problem you’ll try?
- Want a public leaderboard challenge every weekend?
- Interested in a curated “Euler Weekly” newsletter?
Comment below or DM to join a challenge group. Let’s think deeper, together.