Nine High Schools to Compete at Westmont Mathematics Contest

Representing the best mathematical minds of their schools, approximately 100 students will compete at Westmont’s 19th annual High School Mathematics Contest 1 - 5:30 p.m. Feb. 12.

In the math community the contest is known as challenging, lively and fun. Competing teams represent public and private schools from Lompoc to Los Angeles, including Cabrillo, Cate, California Oaks (Thousand Oaks), Crescenta Valley (Los Angeles area), Dos Pueblos, Laguna Blanca, San Marcos, Santa Barbara and Thacher. Santa Barbara Family Schools (an organized system of home schools in the Santa Barbara area) may attend as well.

The competition uses events to test the individual and team knowledge of mathematics. Contestants may not use calculators-- only their  brain power.

Events include Chalk-Talk Derby, Leap-Frog, College Bowl and a written exam. Winners receive trophies and plaques. An awards banquet will follow the competition.

Since communicating mathematical ideas is an important part of the discipline, the Chalk Talk event was included to help ensure students develop their public-speaking skills.  Each contestant prepares an assigned talk, which lasts 10 minutes. This year’s topic is “Cryptography.”  Students must create talks that are well-organized, sufficiently in-depth and focused.

Leap Frog is a team-cooperation game where speed and accuracy counts.  When the game starts, the first member of each team must write a solution to a four-part math problem in an envelope that passes, or leap-frogs, to the next team member to build upon the solution until it is solved.

During the College Bowl even, the first person to correctly answer a question in 20 seconds will be receive 90 seconds to work on a follow-up question with their team.

For more information, contact contest coordinator Russell Howell, Westmont professor of mathematics and computer science, at (805) 565-6178 or e-mail howell@westmont.edu. For photos and an event schedule on the Web, visit http://www.westmont.edu/departments/mcs/ mathcontest/index.html