State 'mathletes' to compete at Purdue
March 5, 2013
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University will host the MATHCOUNTS state competition Saturday (March 9), with more than 200 "mathletes" from Indiana middle and junior high schools testing their math skills.
The event will take place from 9:30 a.m. to noon in Stewart Center, Room 302. The final round, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 1:45 p.m. in the Class of 1950 Lecture Hall, Room 224. An awards ceremony is set for approximately 2:30 p.m.
MATHCOUNTS is a national nonprofit competition that promotes achievement in mathematics.
"MATHCOUNTS is a great opportunity to see students engaged in an exciting and challenging mathematics competition," said Vincent Drnevich, civil engineering professor emeritus and competition co-coordinator. "The countdown round is a fast-moving event in which the top students from the morning competition respond to questions projected onto a screen. They usually know the answers even before the questions are read."
Purdue's Colleges of Engineering and Science, the Indiana Society of Professional Engineers and the A.A. Potter Chapter of the Indiana Society of Professional Engineers sponsor the event.
"We are very excited to host the state competition this year," said Bill Walker, director of Purdue Science K-12 Outreach and competition co-coordinator. "It is great to see so many schools and students getting involved in an academic event that emphasizes math concepts, problem-solving skills and teamwork."
The top four mathletes and coach of the winning team will represent Indiana at the national competition May 9-12 in Washington, D.C.
Regional schools participating in the state competition include East Tipp Middle School, Happy Hollow Elementary School, Klondike Middle School, Lebanon Middle School and West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School.
Writer: Morgan Stephens, 765-490-4855, morganlstephens@gmail.com
Sources: Vincent Drnevich, 765-494-5029, drnevich@purdue.edu
Bill Walker, 765-494-5890, wswalker@purdue.edu