Mathematical olympiad
{{Short description|Math competition}}
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A Mathematical Olympiad is a mathematical competition where participants are examined by problem solving{{Cite web|url=https://maths.uok.edu.in/Main/ViewPage.aspx?Page=674fb9f3-e3b8-4c9e-bec3-a3a5400213cd|title=Mathematics, University of Kashmir|website=maths.uok.edu.in}} and may win medals depending on their performance. Usually aimed at pre-university students, much of Olympiad mathematics consists of elementary mathematics, though solutions may involve the use of calculus or higher-level mathematics. The biggest mathematics Olympiad is the International Mathematical Olympiad.{{Cite web|url=https://www.correiobraziliense.com.br/euestudante/educacao-basica/2023/07/5110703-brasileiro-de-16-anos-leva-ouro-em-olimpiada-de-matematica-no-japao.html|title=Brasileiro de 16 anos leva ouro em olimpíada de matemática no Japão|first='Denise|last=Britto'|date=July 21, 2023|website=Educação básica}} Among their objectives, they serve the purpose of identifying talented or gifted students in mathematics, who often receive opportunities for scholarships at universities.{{Cite web|url=https://international-maths-challenge.com/importance-of-maths-olympiad-for-your-childs-future/|title=Importance of Maths Olympiad for Your Child's Future|date=March 27, 2023|website=International Maths Challenge}}https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000110203{{Cite web|url=http://www.obmep.org.br/apresentacao.htm|title=Olimpíada Brasileira de Matemática das Escolas Públicas - OBMEP {{pipe}} Somando novos talentos para o Brasil.|website=Olimpíada Brasileira de Matemática das Escolas Públicas - OBMEP {{pipe}} Somando novos talentos para o Brasil.}} In a sense, they measure some mathematical abilities of the students.
History
The concept of mathematics competitions dates back to the late 19th century. A one-off competition for 70 primary school students was held in Bucharest in May 1885, but little is known about it.{{Cite journal |last=Kenderov |first=Petar S. |date=2022 |title=Mathematics competitions: an integral part of the educational process |journal=ZDM – Mathematics Education |language=en |volume=54 |issue=5 |pages=983–996 |doi=10.1007/s11858-022-01348-4 |issn=1863-9704 |pmc=8970973 |pmid=35382411}} A better-documented Eötvös Competition in Hungary became one of the earliest organized contests in 1894.{{cite web
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}} Romania followed with another competition, this time for secondary school students, in June 1898. USSR introduced regular math olympiads in the 1930s, and the predecessor of the Putnam Competition started in 1938 in the US.
The success of these national competitions eventually led to the establishment of the International Mathematics Olympiad, which has grown from 7 participating countries in 1959 to over 100 countries in recent years.{{cite web|url=http://olympiads.win.tue.nl/imo/|title=International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO)|date=2008-02-01}}
Curriculum
Modern olympiad mathematics can be split into four categories: algebra, combinatorics, geometry, and number theory. Algebra is restricted to elementary algebra, number theory is restricted to elementary number theory, and geometry is usually restricted to Euclidean plane geometry.{{cite book | last=Chen | first=E. | title=Euclidean Geometry in Mathematical Olympiads | publisher=American Mathematical Society | series=Problem Books | year=2021 | isbn=978-1-4704-6620-6 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AwE_EAAAQBAJ | access-date=2025-01-10 | page=}} While never required, the use of non-elementary techniques like calculus, linear algebra, algebraic number theory, algebraic geometry and projective geometry is allowed, and can often lead to more elegant solutions.
List of mathematics olympiads
{{Main|List of mathematics competitions}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- Campbell, James; Cho; Seokhee; Tirri, Kirsi . "[https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1301497 Mathematics and Science Olympiad Studies: The Outcomes of Olympiads and Contributing Factors to Talent Development of Olympians]"
- {{cite journal | last=Karp | first=Alexander | title=Thirty years after: The lives of former winners of mathematical Olympiads | journal=Roeper Review | volume=25 | issue=2 | date=2003 | issn=0278-3193 | doi=10.1080/02783190309554204 | pages=83–87}}
- {{cite journal | last=Kenderov | first=Petar S. | title=Mathematics competitions: an integral part of the educational process | journal=ZDM – Mathematics Education | volume=54 | issue=5 | date=2022 | issn=1863-9690 | pmid=35382411 | pmc=8970973 | doi=10.1007/s11858-022-01348-4 | doi-access=free | pages=983–996 | url=https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11858-022-01348-4.pdf | access-date=2025-01-10}}
External link
- [https://terrytao.wordpress.com/career-advice/advice-on-mathematics-competitions/ Terence Tao on mathematics competitions]
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