Math Contest Adds Up to Prizes at UH

Seventh Annual Competition Encourages Future Mathematicians, Scientists

More than 500 math-savvy teens will showcase their talents and vie for prizes during the seventh annual University of Houston (UH) Mathematics Contest Saturday, Feb. 11. The event is free to participants and open to both middle and high school students.

“We look forward to this contest each year. There are many talented students who come from hundreds of miles away to compete, and we are so thankful for their enthusiasm and their teacher’s support,” said Jeff Morgan, professor and chair of UH’s department of mathematics. “The university sponsors this event and many other STEM outreach activities each year. In addition to allowing us to be a resource to the community, it is a way to showcase the university to hundreds of top-achieving students.”

In addition to individual exams given that day in algebra I and II, geometry, pre-calculus, calculus, physics, statistics and calculator usage, there will be a pre-event team project to be turned in at the start of the event and a final lightening round, called Quick-Click Smack Down, to cap off the activities.

The team projects entail solving a set of long and complex math problems the week before the competition and are due upon arrival at the event. In the “smack down,” students will be given only seconds to click in their answers to a series of math problems, with competitors gradually eliminated until the one with the fastest mind and fingers is left standing.

Trophies will be awarded for individual exams, team projects and overall school performance, and the top-performing student will receive a $200 cash award. Door prizes include calculators, gift certificates, contest T-shirts and gift cards from Amazon.com and iTunes.

Project problems are due by 8:30 a.m., exams are given from 9 a.m. to noon, the Quick-Click Smack Down takes place at noon and the awards ceremony is at 1 p.m. The contest is sponsored by the mathematics department and UH’s College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. More information and online registration are available at http://mathcontest.uh.edu.

WHO: Houston-area middle and high school students
WHAT: Seventh Annual UH Math Contest
WHEN: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 11
WHERE: University of Houston
Science and Engineering Classroom building
Off Cullen Boulevard, Entrance 14
Map: http://www.uh.edu/campus_map/buildings/SEC.php

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