My high-school chemistry teacher had a tradition of announcing &quot;Automatic A&quot; challenges at the start of the term. One challenge was balancing a large chemical equation. I recall it required solving something like 6 equations with 6 unknowns. I solved it with multiple attempts and many pages of algebra, and crucial hints at sticking points from my dad who had a Masters in Chemistry. Easy A.<p>Another term, an A was promised for anyone turning in a &quot;print out&quot; of the numbers from 1 to 1 million. Dad, coming to the rescue again, got me access to a Microfilm printer at his work, and taught me just enough FORTRAN to generate the list. (Yeah, short program, all about the formatting.)  Another easy A. The teacher&#x27;s expression was priceless.