Scratch

Harakou wrote:

Congrats on doing so well! That sounds great. What sort of math does the competition have you do?

Mostly thinking stuff, with basic theorems.  For example, last year there was a question:  "A cube has a side length of three.  A dividing sheet is made, dividing the cube into two equal triangular prisms.  What is the area of the sheet?" That's the only one I remember from last year, but they're all kind of like that.

Harakou wrote:

Programmer_112 wrote:

Harakou wrote:

Congrats on doing so well! That sounds great. What sort of math does the competition have you do?

Mostly thinking stuff, with basic theorems.  For example, last year there was a question:  "A cube has a side length of three.  A dividing sheet is made, dividing the cube into two equal triangular prisms.  What is the area of the sheet?" That's the only one I remember from last year, but they're all kind of like that.

Ugh, geometry. Always was my least favorite area of math, except maybe statistics. 

So what time/resources did you have to do these, out of curiosity? (Mental back-of-the-envelope calculation says 9 * sqrt(2) but I'm not sure if that's right.)

We have about an hour-ish for a packet of 30 to 40 problems.  Or something like that.
By the way, your answer was right.

Harakou wrote:

Programmer_112 wrote:

Harakou wrote:

Congrats on doing so well! That sounds great. What sort of math does the competition have you do?

Mostly thinking stuff, with basic theorems.  For example, last year there was a question:  "A cube has a side length of three.  A dividing sheet is made, dividing the cube into two equal triangular prisms.  What is the area of the sheet?" That's the only one I remember from last year, but they're all kind of like that.

Ugh, geometry. Always was my least favorite area of math, except maybe statistics. 

So what time/resources did you have to do these, out of curiosity? (Mental back-of-the-envelope calculation says 9 * sqrt(2) but I'm not sure if that's right.)

I think you're right.
It's fun.
And congrats.

Programmer_112 wrote:

Finished the district competition just ten minutes ago.  Sixth individual and fourth in Countdown.  Good job, me.

Hey, great job. Congrats!

Amazing job! We have this program at my school. I'm not really into math, but from what I know it's very difficult. Well done. 

Two of my best friends got 3rd in the state competition, so by my understanding, they're going to another competition? I don't really know. But best of luck to them and you, also! Hope you win. 

Programmer_112 wrote:

KalinaStar wrote:

Amazing job! We have this program at my school. I'm not really into math, but from what I know it's very difficult. Well done. 

Two of my best friends got 3rd in the state competition, so by my understanding, they're going to another competition? I don't really know. But best of luck to them and you, also! Hope you win. 

Yes, they should go to state as individuals, and probably the team too.  Tell them good luck.

Oh, they're the team    with two other people haha. I really didn't make that clear! And I'll tell them.    Thank you!

And of course, good luck to you too! 

I have two questions for you: would you recommend MathCounts to people who don't particularly enjoy math? What is your favorite kind of math problem to do, and why?

Thanks for your time 

Last edited by KalinaStar (2013-02-03 20:11:07)

Programmer_112 wrote:

KalinaStar wrote:

Oh, they're the team    with two other people haha. I really didn't make that clear! And I'll tell them.    Thank you!

And of course, good luck to you too! 

I have two questions for you: would you recommend MathCounts to people who don't particularly enjoy math? What is your favorite kind of math problem to do, and why?

Thanks for your time 

Well, for the first question, I would really ask if you don't like math or if you don't like school math.  School math is my term for math that doesn't involve anything new and is just there to test your competence with the concept.  Math requires you to look at the problem differently to get the answer.  If you like math (not school math), then MathCounts would probably be enjoyable.  Otherwise, well, at least it's free pizza.  As you can probably tell, my favorite type of math requires you to think about the problem.  Mostly geometry.

P.S.  What state do you live in?

ahaha free pizza    At my school, it's free candy and jellybeans...

Thank you for your answers! I completely see what you mean. I'm the type that dislikes both...although I do enjoy somethings (e.g. line correlation, trig, Pythagorean theorem, and I think factoring bi/tri/etc. nomials is my all time favorite    )

I live in the sometimes sunny Golden State, California.    What about you?

KalinaStar wrote:

Programmer_112 wrote:

KalinaStar wrote:

Oh, they're the team    with two other people haha. I really didn't make that clear! And I'll tell them.    Thank you!

And of course, good luck to you too! 

I have two questions for you: would you recommend MathCounts to people who don't particularly enjoy math? What is your favorite kind of math problem to do, and why?

Thanks for your time 

Well, for the first question, I would really ask if you don't like math or if you don't like school math.  School math is my term for math that doesn't involve anything new and is just there to test your competence with the concept.  Math requires you to look at the problem differently to get the answer.  If you like math (not school math), then MathCounts would probably be enjoyable.  Otherwise, well, at least it's free pizza.  As you can probably tell, my favorite type of math requires you to think about the problem.  Mostly geometry.

P.S.  What state do you live in?

ahaha free pizza    At my school, it's free candy and jellybeans...

Thank you for your answers! I completely see what you mean. I'm the type that dislikes both...although I do enjoy somethings (e.g. line correlation, trig, Pythagorean theorem, and I think factoring bi/tri/etc. nomials is my all time favorite    )

I live in the sometimes sunny Golden State, California.    What about you?

I live in Utah.  Last year, I competed with Anthony Cheng, the kid who won state in seventh grade and has placed top ten in the national geography bee since sixth grade.  This year, I faced his brother, who is an even more talented mathematician.  I only lost by one place, so I feel pretty good.  So, yeah, Utah is better at stuff than we seem.

By the way, a lot of the stuff you enjoy is used a lot in MathCounts, along with manipulating algebraic equations.  I can't disclose any questions, but if you enjoy that stuff, then you could do pretty well.

Do you guys know about the Math League?

Sorry if this is a necropost, but . . .
I just learned today that I made state!  I'm pretty happy about it.

Last edited by Programmer_112 (2013-02-23 17:59:47)

kayybee wrote:

I know this isn't math counts, but if you like math you should try the AMC. It's an annual test with extremely hard problems (depending on your grade level).

I would probably do math counts, but I'm fairly sure my school doesn't offer it.

I would do AMC, however; I am quite tied up with Mathcounts at this point.  Also, to train for Mathcounts, I go to a "club" of kids who also want to be good at math, and many of the kids who have exceeded Mathcounts age have suggested that I refrain from AMC until 9th grade, because the AMC group at the club is focused toward kids who are in at least 9th grade.  I have, however, always wanted to do AMC.  Thanks for the suggestion, I'll look into it more.

LeDerpy123 wrote:

Programmer_112 wrote:

Not sure if this is the right place, but . . .
This year, as a seventh grader, I am doing Mathcounts for the second time *happy dance*.  Last year, I took eighth in the state, and all the kids who beat me are not eligible this year.  Competition for me is on Saturday.

So, discuss, post problems, post flattering posts about me (not really.  I don't deserve them).

I did that this and last year. It was fun    I did pretty bad (127 out of 265). But it wwas still fun.

Well, 127 out of 265 isn't bad . . . you beat more than half of the kids who were willing to do math on a Saturday.  So, could have been better, but that's still a pretty big accomplishment.