Math Is Fun Forum
You are not logged in.
- Topics: Active | Unanswered
#1 2005-07-09 16:40:14
- Jenilia
- Member
- Registered: 2005-07-09
- Posts: 64
Hi
I'm new to Maths is fun. I've got a question to ask. Next year
I'll be participating in the Maths Olympiate WorldWide Competition.
If you are also participating, please let me know. I'm eager to know.
Ideas are funny little things, they won't work unless you do.
Offline
#2 2005-07-09 18:48:57
- mathsyperson
- Moderator
- Registered: 2005-06-22
- Posts: 4,900
Re: Hi
Is that the UKMT one? If so, me too!
Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.
Offline
#3 2005-07-09 19:15:58
- MathsIsFun
- Administrator
- Registered: 2005-01-21
- Posts: 7,713
Re: Hi
Hello and welcome to the forum, Jenilia.
Keep your mind sharpened by trying some of the puzzles on the forum - but be careful not to read too far or you will discover the answers!
"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..." - Leon M. Lederman
Offline
#4 2005-07-09 20:30:59
- Roraborealis
- Member
- Registered: 2005-03-17
- Posts: 1,594
Re: Hi
What is that competition?
School is practice for the future. Practice makes perfect. But - nobody's perfect, so why practice?
Offline
#5 2005-07-09 20:50:25
- mathsyperson
- Moderator
- Registered: 2005-06-22
- Posts: 4,900
Re: Hi
Surely you must have done it at least once.
The questions are on a little coloured booklet thingy with this logo:
Doesn't everyone in the UK do them?
Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.
Offline
#6 2005-07-10 00:44:13
- Roraborealis
- Member
- Registered: 2005-03-17
- Posts: 1,594
Re: Hi
I've never, ever heard of it.
School is practice for the future. Practice makes perfect. But - nobody's perfect, so why practice?
Offline
#7 2005-07-10 01:21:23
- MathsIsFun
- Administrator
- Registered: 2005-01-21
- Posts: 7,713
Re: Hi
Good article on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Mathematical_Olympiad
Official site: http://imo.math.ca/
Can you tell us more about your entry in the contest, Jenilia?
"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..." - Leon M. Lederman
Offline
#8 2005-07-10 01:56:01
- mathsyperson
- Moderator
- Registered: 2005-06-22
- Posts: 4,900
Re: Hi
I feel sorry for you, Rora. You should nag your teacher to enter you next year!
Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.
Offline
#9 2005-07-10 02:05:43
- Zach
- Member
- Registered: 2005-03-23
- Posts: 2,075
Re: Hi
UKMT = United Kingdom's Mathematical Torture.
Boy let me tell you what:
I bet you didn't know it, but I'm a fiddle player too.
And if you'd care to take a dare, I'll make a bet with you.
Offline
#10 2005-07-11 05:16:07
- Roraborealis
- Member
- Registered: 2005-03-17
- Posts: 1,594
Re: Hi
What exactly is it? Is it like a test? And what age group do they allow?
School is practice for the future. Practice makes perfect. But - nobody's perfect, so why practice?
Offline
#11 2005-07-11 06:00:07
- mathsyperson
- Moderator
- Registered: 2005-06-22
- Posts: 4,900
Re: Hi
It's kind of a test, but more fun because the questions are more like puzzles than questions.
You don't actually need much mathematical knowledge, you just need to think.
There are 3: Junior, Intermediate and Senior.
If I remember, Junior is for years 7-9, Intermediate for 10-11 and clever year 9's and senior for 12-13 and clever year 11's.
If you do exceptionally well in one of these, you move on to the Olympiad of that level, which is what Jenilia was talking about.
Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.
Offline
#12 2005-07-11 20:27:19
- mathsyperson
- Moderator
- Registered: 2005-06-22
- Posts: 4,900
Re: Hi
If you want to try some of the questions, there are some samples here or try the most recent junior, intermediate or senior past papers.
Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.
Offline
#13 2005-07-13 20:02:11
- MathsIsFun
- Administrator
- Registered: 2005-01-21
- Posts: 7,713
Re: Hi
Jenilia - we are dying to hear back from you ...
"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..." - Leon M. Lederman
Offline
#14 2005-07-13 20:19:15
- Jenilia
- Member
- Registered: 2005-07-09
- Posts: 64
Re: Hi
You dont have to die to hear from me. I was tied up in my school work. I'm so sorry. Since I'm new to Maths is fun, I didnt know you guys were so active in replying. Anyway I've never heard of the UKMT before till today as I'm from Singapore. Anyway thanks for letting me know what it is. I doubt it is the same one.
Ideas are funny little things, they won't work unless you do.
Offline
#15 2005-07-13 20:36:46
- Jenilia
- Member
- Registered: 2005-07-09
- Posts: 64
Re: Hi
"Can you tell us more about your entry in the contest, Jenilia?"
Someone sent this message. Anyway this competition is for the 12 yr olds and the smarter 11 yr olds. We start our practicing at 10 yr old. We first go for the best school in the country, then the best country in the world. The question is like "Find the No. in the ones place in the sum of 1 x 3 x 5 x 7 x ... x 97 x 99=". The answer is [edited]. For this kind of question in maths olympiad level you should tell the answer in the first look.
Ideas are funny little things, they won't work unless you do.
Offline
#16 2005-07-13 20:43:03
- Jai Ganesh
- Administrator
- Registered: 2005-06-28
- Posts: 48,423
Re: Hi
My best wishes to you, Jenilia.
You can post all your mathematical doubts here.
We'd try to help you.
It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.
Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.
Offline
#17 2005-07-13 20:43:13
- mathsyperson
- Moderator
- Registered: 2005-06-22
- Posts: 4,900
Re: Hi
I think the UKMT thing is the one that UK people do to find the best school in country, then we both do the same best country in world test.
Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.
Offline
#18 2005-07-13 20:45:54
- Jenilia
- Member
- Registered: 2005-07-09
- Posts: 64
Re: Hi
Hey you replied soo... soon. I'm so glad
Anyway, thanks ganesh for wishing me good luck.
Last edited by Jenilia (2005-07-13 20:49:57)
Ideas are funny little things, they won't work unless you do.
Offline
#19 2005-07-13 20:47:44
- Jenilia
- Member
- Registered: 2005-07-09
- Posts: 64
Re: Hi
What is it about a full member, novice, and the moderator. I'm eager to know.
Ideas are funny little things, they won't work unless you do.
Offline
#20 2005-07-13 20:51:37
- mathsyperson
- Moderator
- Registered: 2005-06-22
- Posts: 4,900
Re: Hi
When you join, you're a novice.
After 5 posts, you're a member.
After 30 posts, you're a full member.
After 200 or 250 (don't know which), you're a power member.
As Mr T has recently proved, after 1000 posts, you're a super member.
And after a number of very helpful posts, you're a moderator. 
Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.
Offline
#21 2005-07-13 20:52:25
- MathsIsFun
- Administrator
- Registered: 2005-01-21
- Posts: 7,713
Re: Hi
Most of us come on about once a day, and we share puzzles and brain teasers, and even do some good mathematics.
As people have said already, just tell us what you are having trouble with (examples are useful) and we will give you SOME kind of reply (hopefully good!)
Now, that 1 x 3 x 5 x 7 x ... x 97 x 99 is intriguing 
That is all multiplied, right?
Hmmm, after 10 the 1s may not change ...
"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..." - Leon M. Lederman
Offline
#22 2005-07-13 21:01:34
- mathsyperson
- Moderator
- Registered: 2005-06-22
- Posts: 4,900
Re: Hi
I'd explain it if you got the invisible writing up...
Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.
Offline
#23 2005-07-13 21:07:01
- Jenilia
- Member
- Registered: 2005-07-09
- Posts: 64
Re: Hi
Anyway the answer is 5. And I've put up a teaser in the puzzles and games section. Have a look!
Ideas are funny little things, they won't work unless you do.
Offline
#24 2005-07-13 21:10:05
- Jai Ganesh
- Administrator
- Registered: 2005-06-28
- Posts: 48,423
Re: Hi
That's because, in all the odd numbers up to 99,
there are 10 numbers ending in '5'.
5, 15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, and 95.
And, when an odd number is multiplied by a
number ending in '5', the resultant always ends in '5':)
Last edited by Jai Ganesh (2005-07-13 21:11:10)
It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.
Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.
Offline
#25 2005-07-13 21:11:44
- mathsyperson
- Moderator
- Registered: 2005-06-22
- Posts: 4,900
Re: Hi
Ganesh is right. Multiply anything by 5 and you get something that ends in 5 or 0. All of the numbers are odd, which means that their product will be odd, which rules out it ending in 0.
Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.
Offline