December 30, 2005

2006 Primary Mathematics World Contest team tryouts Feb. 6 – 7

If your child enjoys solving math problems, attends seventh grade or lower and was born after Sept 1, 1992, he/she is invited to tryout for the USA-Silicon Valley team on Feb. 6 or 7 to compete in an international math contest in Hong Kong in July 2006.

A sample problems from Math Edge’s website.

This is a unique opportunity for elementary and middle school students to have an academic and cultural exchange with children from other parts of the world. Team participation is by invitation, and each country is entitled to send a team.

Last year 44 teams from many countries participated, and the USA-Silicon Valley team, as the only team representing the United States and as the first time participating, won three honorable awards.

To qualify for the team, students must take the tryout test consisting of 20 non multiple-choice word problems done in 45 minutes without a calculator. Based on the tryout score, about the top10 percent students will be selected to go through an eight-week training. Another test will be administered to select the final four to eight students for the final training until June.

For the final selected students, all expenses in Hong Kong for five days including room, board, and local tours will be covered. However, the student is responsible for his/her airfare, training costs and other expenses.

A sample problems from Math Edge’s website.

Tryout results will be notified through e-mail within two weeks after the tryout test. You must provide at least one parent’s e-mail address, the student’s date of birth and grade.

You can choose between two tryout dates: Monday, Feb. 6, or Tuesday, Feb. 7, from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. at Argonaut School Cafeteria, 13200 Shadow Mountain Drive, Saratoga, Calif., 95070.

Register with the non-profit organization LGS Recreation at www.lgsrecreation.org or call (408) 354-8700. For more information or sample problems, visit www.mathedge.org, send an e-mail to mathedge.org, call (408) 725-2680 or come to MathEdge, 7246 Sharon Drive, Suite P, San Jose) on 1/7/06 or 1/8/05 from 2-5pm.