Source: Charles Moore, 785-532-0576, cnmoore@k-state.edu
Web site: http://www.math.ksu.edu/main/events/olympiad
News release prepared by: Nellie Ryan, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu

Monday, April 5, 2010

K-STATE MATH FACULTY MEMBERS OFFERING SEMINARS FOR STUDENTS TO SHARPEN THEIR PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS IN PREPARATION FOR THE MANHATTAN MATHEMATICAL OLYMPIAD

MANHATTAN -- Faculty members in Kansas State University's department of mathematics are offering Math Circle Seminars for students in grades 2-12 as a way to prepare for the upcoming annual Manhattan Mathematical Olympiad.

The seminars will help students develop creative thinking and problem-solving skills needed for the olympiad, which will be Saturday, April 24, on the K-State campus and is part of All-University Open House activities. The olympiad, offered by the K-State department of mathematics since 1997, is for students in grades 5-12.

The seminars will be Saturday, April 10 and 17. Each seminar is 45 minutes long. They are divided into four age groups: elementary, grades 2-4; beginners, grades 5-6; intermediate, grades 7-8; and advanced, grades 9-12. The elementary group starts at 10 a.m. in 130 Cardwell Hall; the beginners group starts at 10 a.m. in 131 Cardwell Hall; the intermediate group starts at 10:55 a.m. in 131 Cardwell Hall; and the advanced group starts at 11:50 in 131 Cardwell Hall.

This is the first year that faculty members will be offering seminars for students before the olympiad to help teach them methods and techniques for solving challenging mathematical problems. This enrichment program best suits students who have a strong interest in mathematics.

The seminars are free and independently facilitated by K-State mathematics faculty Natalia Rojkovskaia, Ilia Zharkov and Gabriel Nagy.

Students participating should arrive 5-10 minutes before their scheduled session and are asked to bring their own paper and writing instruments. Students can pre-register by sending their name, age, grade, school and level -- elementary, beginner, intermediate or advanced -- to rozhkovs@math.ksu.edu

Fifth- through 12th-grade students are encouraged to participate in the Manhattan Mathematical Olympiad. The competition will run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. April 24 in 101 Cardwell Hall and will be offered at three different age levels: grades 5-6, grades 7-8 and grades 9-12.

The olympiad's solution session and awarding of prizes will be from 5-7 p.m. April 24, also in 101 Cardwell Hall. The event is free and no pre-registration is required. Participants should bring their own paper and pencils. More information on the Math Circle Seminars and the Manhattan Mathematical Olympiad is available at http://www.math.ksu.edu/main/events/Olympiad.