IDEAMATH
IDEAMATH
The IDEAMATH is a weekend extracurricular program founded by Dr. Zuming Feng in 2007 to help talented students who want to advance their problem solving skills. This is a year-long program held on Saturdays at the Lexington High School in Lexington, MA from September to April. The program aims at expanding the mathematical horizons for talented students while preparing them for math competitions. Courses are offered at many levels, enabling students to prepare for competitions such as MATHCOUNTS, AMC8/10/12, AIME, and USAMO and beyond.
The classes are taught by well known instructors in mathematical field. While the Junior and Intermediate Math Competition Series are mainly taught by seasoned mathematicians, Prof. Chengde Feng and Prof. Yunhua Xu, the Advanced Math Competition and Mathmatical Proofs Series are mainly taught by Dr. Zuming Feng of Phillips Exeter Academy. Prof. Chengde Feng was a former coach of the China Math Olympiad Team and a member of the MATHCOUNTS Question Writing Committee. Dr. Zuming Feng is the current U.S. IMO team leader and coach as well as the Director of the MOSP (Math Olympiad Summer Program) and Awesome Math program. In addition, the classes are also regularly taught by former Math olympiads such as Tony Zhang of Harvard (IMO Gold Medalist), Thomas Mildorf of MIT (IMO Gold Medalist), Keone Hon of MIT, Oleg Golberg of MIT (IMO Gold Medalist), Sara Campbell of MIT and Sherry Gong of Harvard (IMO Gold Medalist).
IDEA MATH brings together students from all over the Boston area who take pleasure in tackling difficult math problems. Not only can students learn a great deal of math through our classes, but also they will have an opportunity to form friendships with students like themselves who enjoy math.
Course structure
Junior Math Competition Series (JM1, JM2, JM3, JM4) Junior Math Competition Series prepares students for MATHCOUNTS and AMC 8 contests. This series are appropriate for students in grade 6 - 8.
Intermediate Math Competition Series (IM1, IM2, IM3, IM4) The Intermediate Math Competition Series prepares students for AMC 10, AMC 12, and American Regions Math League contests. This series is appropriate for students in grades 8 - 11. Due to the lack of geometry (analytic and Euclidean) in most high school curriculums, developing geometry is a continuing main theme for all the courses.
Advanced Math Competition Series (AM1, AM2, AM3, AM4) Advanced Math Competition Series prepares students for AMC 12, AIME, and HMMT. This series is appropriate for students with a significant background in math competitions. As in the Intermediate Math Competition Series, developing both analytic and Euclidean geometry is a continuing main theme here.
Mathematical Proofs Series (MP1, MP2, MP3, MP4) Prepares the students for advanced math competitions such as USAMO, and IMO. Through stimulating problems with close touch with reality, these courses introduce the mathematical methods in some of their barest forms. They emphasize understanding and mastering increased levels of rigor, with a clear sense of curiosity and creativity.
AP Calculus AB/BC and Beyond (AP1, AP2) AP and Beyond prepares students for the AP Calculus exams. This course is not limited to the AP curriculum, and it expands to many topics that will be helpful in future science studies.
Admission to the Program
Each applicant should take one admission test. The admissions test is the student's opportunity to show his/her ability to handle challenges. The admissions tests are posted online, well ahead of the start of each of the four sessions. For each test, the students will be given ten days to write up their solutions. The solutions must then be submitted by email or mail no later than the indicated postmark deadline. There is also an early application which closes in the middle of May. The application test is good for the whole school year.
In addition to the admissions test, the applicant should submit one or more letters of recommendations.
