Welcome to Chattanooga Math Circle!

Application for 2017-2018

Chattanooga Math Circle is currently accepting new applications for Fall 2017. The application process consists of three steps, which must be completed by a parent or a legal guardian of the student. To be considered, all requested information must be provided.

Step 1: Please read the important rules below.

• We will meet four times a month from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM on Thursdays, starting September 7th.

• If the student is younger than 16 years old, the student must be brought to the Math Circle session and met afterward by an adult. For security reasons, we cannot allow any student younger than 16 years old to come to the Math Circle session without an adult.

• Students should be in middle or high school, grades 7-10.

• Students should bring their pens or pencils, notebooks and binders, and calculators to each session.

Step 2: Please complete the online application form at the website https://goo.gl/forms/3dDkxORtaRi0EgS33 by August 31st.

Step 3: Please complete the release form and bring it to the first Math Circle session on September 7th.

Success in the Math Circle depends to a large extent on knowledge of algebra, analytic geometry, functions, and trigonometry. During the first meeting, we will have a short test to determine students' level of preparation in these areas.

 

What is Chattanooga Math Circle?

There is a correlation between problem solving and the learning process of mathematics. Strong problem solving skills have considerable effect in transforming a mathematics enthusiast into an exceptional researcher. Following the traditions of Russian and Eastern European math circles, Chattanooga Math Circle is a creative enrichment program geared toward gifted middle and high school students in grades 7-10. Its objectives are:

• to provide an enriching and stimulating environment that encourages further involvement from students already interested in mathematics;

• to promote mathematics to a wider audience and explain its impact and relevance for society;

• to develop the mathematical background of students; and

• to guide students towards promising careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.

The Math Circle includes the following major components:

• a series of mathematically intensive, expository seminars on a variety of pure, applied and computational mathematics topics designed to challenge top Chattanooga students;

• special guest lectures that show students some of the ways mathematicians approach problems;

• collaborative problem solving activities that focus on complex problems and advanced problem solving techniques; and

• workshops on American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) 8 and 10/12 B.

The Math Circle focuses on topics outside of what is typically covered in a middle and high school setting but accessible to the mathematically inclined students. These are as varied as advanced Euclidean geometry, elementary number theory, fractals, combinatorics, graph theory, probability, statistics, game theory, and logic. Under the guidance and instruction of mathematics faculty and supported by talented undergraduate mathematics majors, students will have the opportunity to learn and explore a variety of effective problem solving strategies. Students can expect to be supported in an environment with events and activities that help them learn quickly and push outside their comfort zone, to grow their skills and gain valuable insights into various mathematical problems, and to have a lot of fun learning beautiful and useful mathematics.

 

Fall 2017 Schedule

The format is that of one and a half hours meeting, from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM on Thursdays. The Math Circle will meet in Room 205F of the Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Science (EMCS) Building starting September 7th and continuing until December 14th. After hours parking is free in Lot 10. Parents are welcome to use the UTC Library while their children are participating in the Math Circle. The latest books and magazines are in the common area of the first floor of the UTC Library.

Date	Title	Speaker(s)
9/7		Andrew Ledoan
9/14
9/21		Sarah Trebat-Leder (Emory University)
9/28	AMC 8 and AMC 10 Workshops
10/5
10/12	Hamilton County Fall Break (No session)
10/19		Guest Speaker/STEM Professional
10/26	AMC 8 and AMC 10 Workshops
11/2
11/9
11/14	AMC 8 Competition at UTC
11/16		Ben Webb (Brigham Young University)
11/23	Thanksgiving Holiday (No session)
11/30	AMC 10 Workshop
12/7
12/14	Who Wants to Be a Mathematician? (Quiz competition)

 

Math Circle Instructors

The Math Circle instructors are faculty members and graduate and undergraduate students from The University of Tennessee at Chattanoooga (UTC) and Lee University:

• Prof. Andrew Ledoan, UTC, Director

• Prof. Roger Nichols, UTC, Co-Director

• Prof. Cuilan (Lani) Gao, UTC, Co-Director

• Prof. Debra Mimbs, Lee

• Ms. Shannon Hyder, UTC

• Ms. Rhionna Sims, UTC

 

Upcoming Mathematics Competitions

The AMC is a series of national mathematical competitions of increasing difficulty organized annually by the Mathematical Association of America. Participants are middle school and high school students. According to AMC, the competitions are intended for everyone from the average student at a typical school who enjoys mathematics to the very best student at the most special school. The AMC starts with AMC 8 and AMC 10/12, continues with the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME) for students who qualify, and finishes with the United States of America Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO). The top participants in the USAMO are invited to take part in the Mathematical Olympiad Summer Program (MOSP), where a US team for the International Olympiad is selected.

The dates for the upcoming AMC contests are:

• AMC 8 — Tuesday, November 14, 2017

  • 25 multiple choice questions in 40 minutes

  • AMC 8 is for grades 6, 7, and 8

• AMC 10/12 A — Tuesday, February 7, 2018

• AMC 10/12 B — Wednesday, February 15, 2018

  • 25 multiple choice questions in 75 minutes

  • AMC 10 is for grades 9-10 (top 2.5% nationally qualify for the AIME)

  • AMC 12 is for grades 11-12 (top 5% nationally qualify for the AIME)

Typically, students take AMC 10/12 B at their schools. However, if their school is not offering the test, they can now take it at UTC. For banks of AMC problems, visit the Art of Problem Solving’s AoPSolving Wiki website.

 

AIME

• 10,000 students are invited (March)

• 15 questions in 3 hours, each answer is an integer number 0-999

 

USAMO

• 500 students are invited (April)

• 6 essay/proof questions in 2 days (9 hours)

• 12 students are invited to the award ceremony in Washington, DC

 

MOSP

• 50 students are invited: IMO team (6 students), 2 alternates, 17 younger top students, 25 top

• 3 to 4 weeks (intensive)

 

IMO

• 6 students represent the USA

• 6 essay/proof questions in 2 days (9 hours)

 

Old Math Circle Sessions