Math club update/news (October 3-7)
by SamE, Jun 17, 2006, 3:21 PM
NOTICE: Don't forget, USAMTS solutions are due Monday! You can e-mail or fax them tonight!
This week is the first week of October, and the start of a new category of problems. October is all about "tricks of the trade", or tricks that math problem-solvers use and find somewhat fun. This week I'll give three lectures on factoring tricks, like difference of squares.
October also brings about adjustments in format. The problem packet has been discarded for various reasons. You can still turn in your solutions to the first two pages of the September problem packet for points on Monday. However, I will not be giving out any more problem packets for you to work on.
The departure of the problem packet calls for a revamping of the point system! Here's what you will get points for in the future:
1) Attendance. Simply showing up to a lecture earns you 5 points! Problem sessions are also 5, and all contests, mock or real, earn you 10! For example, if you turn in solutions to the UNC mock contest (due next Monday the 10th), you earn at least 10 points!
2) Bringing friends. If you bring someone who has never been to Math Club before, you get 5 points. If they continue to come, you earn 1 point each time they come for a maximum of 10 more points (per friend).
3) Challenges. In October (and possibly beyond), challenges are worth 20 points, not 10.
4) Some mock contests, like the UNC. You can earn a maximum of 40 points in this category for your solutions to the UNC mock contest.
5) The website. For replying on the website, Samantha, Lily, and Lucas earn 10 points. Anyone else who replies gets 10 as well.
6) Taking good notes. If a contributor beats me to submitting a summary of a lecture or problem session, they earn a maximum of 20 points. Don't worry, I'll still edit the post to perfection.
7) Problem sessions. In September, math club members only got points for presenting solutions to problems from the lectures. Once we got the mock contests rolling, no one got any points for those, and it was mostly me lecturing. That was bad. In October and beyond, students will get points for presenting their solutions, on the old 1-10 scale.
The final standings as of October 2 are:
1) Lucas - 43
2) Lily - 15
3) Samantha - 13
4) Sam Sun - 12
5) Everyone else - 0
The last change that will take place in October is the format of the handouts. The majority of the front side will be a blank section entitled "Notes". That's where you...guess...take notes! Also, since these problems are a bit more difficult, I've reduced the problem count to 16 total (counting extra problems and the challenge) and reformated the order of events a bit:
Right at 11:45, I'll start by presenting the solution to the challenge. Immediately after that, I'll begin lecturing on the topic, while you take notes. After about 10 minutes or so, I'll move into the problems, and spend 10-15 minutes on them. I'll give the last 5-10 minutes to you to spend solving the extra problems and the challenge, while I answer any questions you might have.
This week is the first week of October, and the start of a new category of problems. October is all about "tricks of the trade", or tricks that math problem-solvers use and find somewhat fun. This week I'll give three lectures on factoring tricks, like difference of squares.
October also brings about adjustments in format. The problem packet has been discarded for various reasons. You can still turn in your solutions to the first two pages of the September problem packet for points on Monday. However, I will not be giving out any more problem packets for you to work on.
The departure of the problem packet calls for a revamping of the point system! Here's what you will get points for in the future:
1) Attendance. Simply showing up to a lecture earns you 5 points! Problem sessions are also 5, and all contests, mock or real, earn you 10! For example, if you turn in solutions to the UNC mock contest (due next Monday the 10th), you earn at least 10 points!
2) Bringing friends. If you bring someone who has never been to Math Club before, you get 5 points. If they continue to come, you earn 1 point each time they come for a maximum of 10 more points (per friend).
3) Challenges. In October (and possibly beyond), challenges are worth 20 points, not 10.
4) Some mock contests, like the UNC. You can earn a maximum of 40 points in this category for your solutions to the UNC mock contest.
5) The website. For replying on the website, Samantha, Lily, and Lucas earn 10 points. Anyone else who replies gets 10 as well.
6) Taking good notes. If a contributor beats me to submitting a summary of a lecture or problem session, they earn a maximum of 20 points. Don't worry, I'll still edit the post to perfection.
7) Problem sessions. In September, math club members only got points for presenting solutions to problems from the lectures. Once we got the mock contests rolling, no one got any points for those, and it was mostly me lecturing. That was bad. In October and beyond, students will get points for presenting their solutions, on the old 1-10 scale.
The final standings as of October 2 are:
1) Lucas - 43
2) Lily - 15
3) Samantha - 13
4) Sam Sun - 12
5) Everyone else - 0
The last change that will take place in October is the format of the handouts. The majority of the front side will be a blank section entitled "Notes". That's where you...guess...take notes! Also, since these problems are a bit more difficult, I've reduced the problem count to 16 total (counting extra problems and the challenge) and reformated the order of events a bit:
Right at 11:45, I'll start by presenting the solution to the challenge. Immediately after that, I'll begin lecturing on the topic, while you take notes. After about 10 minutes or so, I'll move into the problems, and spend 10-15 minutes on them. I'll give the last 5-10 minutes to you to spend solving the extra problems and the challenge, while I answer any questions you might have.
June 2006