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#1 2014-05-27 00:52:32

David
Member
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2014-04-23
Posts: 3,164

Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

Hello everyone,
The reason I'm posting this topic is because I NEED HELP! My school forced me to join the OMK (Math Olympaid). I'm only 14 and my school gave me a bunch of books to read during the holidays (Which is right now) and below is the list of things I should read :

1)    Algebra
•    Equation (linear, quadratic, system of simultaneous equations)
•    Arithmetic and geometric progressions
•    Algebraic identities
•    Polynomials and their roots
•    Inequalities
•    Functions

2)    Combinatorics
•    Counting Principles
•    Permutations and Combinations
•    Enumerative Combinatorics
•    Pigeohole Principle

3)    Number Theory
•    Primes and Composite Numbers
•    Divisibility
•    Divisibility Tests
•    Last Digit Analysis
•    Parity
•    Diophantine Equations

4)    Geometry
•    Geometric Calculations (angle, length, areas)
•    Triangles
•    Quadrilaterals
•    Polygons
•    Trigonometric Identities

If someone is nice enough to explain it to me and tell me what to read online on MIF It would be great!


His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

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#2 2014-05-27 01:00:29

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

Look here to start on algebra:

http://www.mathsisfun.com/sphider/searc … h&search=1

There are many more.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#3 2014-05-27 01:00:35

ShivamS
Member
Registered: 2011-02-07
Posts: 3,648

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

You can not succeed on an Olympiad by online resources. You need books.

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#4 2014-05-27 01:01:24

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

That is certainly true but does he know the basics?


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#5 2014-05-27 01:04:08

David
Member
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2014-04-23
Posts: 3,164

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

No, I have a bunch of books already. But I don't understand the basics that's why I'm asking for help.


His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

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#6 2014-05-27 01:06:13

ShivamS
Member
Registered: 2011-02-07
Posts: 3,648

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

There are books which teach the basics.

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#7 2014-05-27 01:09:50

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

Then why not use both?


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#8 2014-05-27 01:17:40

David
Member
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2014-04-23
Posts: 3,164

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

How you learn maths by reading books :
Read... Read... Do... Read

How you learn maths on a website (or in this case a forum) :
Read... Do... Interection.... Help...

I prefer to learn the basic here. Because the contents in MIF and mathopolis is more than enough to learn. In fact, even the advanced levels of maths can we learn online here. The tranditional way or learning math vs the modern way to learn maths, I pick the modern way. (Not that I don't like books or something, I can't ask my books for help, right?)


His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

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#9 2014-05-27 01:21:36

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

You should use both, when I was learning we did not have a forum like this where you can ask a question. I had to learn from books. You have more choices.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#10 2014-05-27 01:23:13

ShivamS
Member
Registered: 2011-02-07
Posts: 3,648

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

Forums are good, but unfortunately there are no good intermediate level online resources. There are good ones for lower level (e.g. Mathisfun) and for university (e.g. MIT OCW). Nothing in between,

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#11 2014-05-27 01:26:46

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

That is a problem for everyone who is self taught. You might think there are many intermediate books oput there but that is because you have a good education behind you. I found the jump from lower to advanced extremely difficult.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#12 2014-05-27 01:34:18

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

I was only able to learn by using my CAS and programmable calculators as tutors. There was no one to ask and books just seemed to be written for people who already knew the field.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#13 2014-05-27 01:34:49

ShivamS
Member
Registered: 2011-02-07
Posts: 3,648

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

For combinatorics, see Mathematics of Choice: Or, How to Count Without Counting by Niven (this is one book).

bobbym wrote:

That is a problem for everyone who is self taught. You might think there are many intermediate books oput there but that is because you have a good education behind you. I found the jump from lower to advanced extremely difficult.

I am completely self-taught as well. I learned all high school mathematics by myself before coming to university, learned calculus, real analysis, complex analysis, linear algebra etc before covering it in university etc.

Last edited by ShivamS (2014-05-27 01:41:21)

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#14 2014-05-27 01:36:09

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

Those are 2 great combinatorics books! I suggest the Vilenkin and Tucker book too.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#15 2014-05-27 01:40:31

ShivamS
Member
Registered: 2011-02-07
Posts: 3,648

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

bobbym wrote:

Those are 2 great combinatorics books! I suggest the Vilenkin and Tucker book too.

Where is the second book? I only wrote one.

I think Tucker and Vilenkin are too complicated for him right now. So it Niven, but he only needs the first few chapters and the chapters near the middle or end on probability and combinatorial geometry.

Last edited by ShivamS (2014-05-27 01:40:57)

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#16 2014-05-27 01:46:02

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

Sorry, had a hallucination. I was thinking of his number theory book.

I think Tucker and Vilenkin are too complicated for him right now.

That is why he will need MathsisFun and Mathopolis first. Except I would have him learn generating functions before binomials, the Tucker book is the best teaching guide for gf's that I know of.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#17 2014-05-27 01:48:02

ShivamS
Member
Registered: 2011-02-07
Posts: 3,648

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

bobbym wrote:

Sorry, had a hallucination. I was thinking of his number theory book.

I think Tucker and Vilenkin are too complicated for him right now.

That is why he will need MathsisFun and Mathopolis first. Except I would have him learn generating functions before binomials, the Tucker book is the best teaching guide for gf's that I know of.

I agree.

Tucker is used in an honors university introductory course.

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#18 2014-05-27 01:56:01

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

That book can even teach a bumpkin how to use a gf to solve a combinatorics problem. One of my favorites. But it still might be inferior to someone on a forum that read it and is willing to explain it.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#19 2014-05-27 01:58:07

ShivamS
Member
Registered: 2011-02-07
Posts: 3,648

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

Really? I skimmed it about a 2 years back and didn't understand most of it.

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#20 2014-05-27 02:06:56

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

My opinion would be that a computational guy would absorb it faster.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#21 2014-05-27 12:44:48

David
Member
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2014-04-23
Posts: 3,164

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

Thanks for the suggestion guys, but what other books would you prefer me to read? I want to learn maths all the way till advanced levels.


His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

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#22 2014-05-27 12:46:01

ShivamS
Member
Registered: 2011-02-07
Posts: 3,648

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

Do you want to learn the math properly or stupidly (i.e. the way it is taught in schools)?

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#23 2014-05-27 13:04:19

David
Member
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2014-04-23
Posts: 3,164

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

Properly.


His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

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#24 2014-05-27 13:09:12

ShivamS
Member
Registered: 2011-02-07
Posts: 3,648

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

Basic Mathematics by Lang
Elementary and Intermediate Algebra by Sullivan (this is one book - there are two separate books as well but get the book with both of them)
Precalculus by Sullivan
Geometry by Jacobs (1st or 2nd edition)

Go through these books (they are all very cheap - you can get them for under 100 Malaysian Ringgit) and you will have the best mathematics education available. Many of those are also available online - if you want to go through them, I will link it.

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#25 2014-05-27 13:26:06

David
Member
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2014-04-23
Posts: 3,164

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

Thanks, I will have to go look for the books online, because I am 100% sure these books are not being sold here.


His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

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