The competition consisted of nine programing challenges, ranging from the practical problems of "von Neuman Airport's" traffic-load, to the fictitious quandaries of a troubled cheese mite named "Amelia Cheese Mite."

The contest provided each team with one computer, a packet of problems and five hours to solve them. Contestants are allowed to consult reference books of their choice.

"When the judges score the teams, first they look at the number of problems solved, and then look how long it took to solve them," Chen said. "It's best to solve the easiest problems."

In preparation, the Harvard team met for three hours each week, using only one computer.

"They're always practicing," said Karen Bruderle, a spokesperson for IBM, a sponsor of the contest. "These students are doing problems year round."

To gain position on the team, the three students had to beat out other Harvard students in September's Harvard Computer Contest Club team selection competition, which was advertised on the computer science concentration mailing list.

Chen is the team's only computer science concentrator. Conittzer concentrated in applied math as an undergraduate, and Chiburis concentrates in combined math and computer science.