Description

Academic competitions are a good way to get students started on an unbounded quest of knowledge. Students persevere to tackle an intellectual challenge by developing their own foundational understanding and building a library of strategies. 

The goal of this course is to give students an introduction to the problem solving strategies required to succeed in the beginner level Math competitions like MOEMS, Math Kangaroo, and other local level Math competitions. In a collaborative platform with guidance from the coaches, students share their ideas and challenge their own understanding of several mathematical concepts and learn from the experience. Several problems are presented to them in a puzzle-like format, encouraging problem solving strategies that work beyond typical process and procedures.

Students are introduced to the general approach to problem solving and learn how to collaborate with other students to come up with strategies to solve problems. Students will also learn techniques to improve their mental math skills using arithmetic operation strategies. The following elementary math topics build the framework to gain a deeper understanding.

• Fractions and Decimals, 
• Rates, Ratios, Percents, 
• Measurements & Estimation – Angles, Perimeter, Area, Circumference 
• Patterns, Sequences and Series
• Expressions, Equations and use of  integers 
• Geometry : Triangles, Right triangles, and Polygons.

Students will practice several problems derived from many math competitions. This course builds a foundation for middle school math competitions like Mathcounts & AMC-8.