I need tips...

espeon · 2007-05-05 04:58:07

Well like the title explains I need tips, hints, advice anything to remember the most important things in maths that might help me.

Reason is that I'm one of 10 who had the highest scores in the Math challenge in year 7 in my school and next thursday I have to compete with the other 9 students to get a place in the final 4 which will actually go to the borough competition.

So please help... I have subscribed to this topic...

Thanks

Your friend

x~Espeon~x

Devantè · 2007-05-05 06:52:53

Mathematics is such a wide subject. Please explain and list the problems you have encountered and what you think may crop up in the test (or whatever it is).

Identity · 2007-05-06 09:11:41

I assume it would be in the realm of problem solving, here are some tips if you get stuck... but it would be nice if you could specify:
Use a diagram, drawing or model
Make a list
Look for a pattern
Find a rule or formula
Try a simpler version of the problem
Use trial and error when needed (and refine if necessary)
Eliminate possibilities
Act it out
Work backwards (from a stage you know is correct)

Might sound simple, but easy to get frantic and forget.

MathsIsFun · 2007-05-06 10:51:46

Make sure you remember the basics.

You can go through my Index by Year and Subject, start with the "3 to 6" subjects, and ask questions if you have any.

mathsyperson · 2007-05-08 02:57:19

If Espeon is talking about the same Maths Challenge that I think she's talking about (this one), then you can't really revise or prepare for it or the next round. It's unlike other tests because it doesn't test how well you can remember a syllabus or anything like that, but instead how well you can think mathematically.

The best advice I can offer is to look at some past Olympiad papers and use them to get into the right way of thinking. Unfortunately I can't find any on the web that I don't have to pay for. Maybe ask your teacher for some?

Identity · 2007-05-08 03:39:29

I have some Australian Maths Competition papers... every one from 1978 to 2005. Am I allowed to post them here...? The website I got them from is a school website, so you won't be able to access it.

Last edited by Identity (2007-05-08 03:40:41)

mathsyperson · 2007-05-08 04:06:39

As long as the website doesn't have a "These papers may not be distributed"-type message, then I don't see why not. Go ahead!

Stanley_Marsh · 2007-05-08 10:52:33

Do various problem and learn different kinds of method.

I was in a math contest once , I couldnt do anything with time limited. lol

MathsIsFun · 2007-05-08 11:40:36

Identity wrote:

I have some Australian Maths Competition papers... every one from 1978 to 2005. Am I allowed to post them here...?

If they allow it would be good.

mathsyperson · 2007-05-09 11:07:13

I went through that test I linked to for fun, and (I think) I've got answers for all of them except the last one.

A piece of paper in the shape of a polygon is folded in half along a line of symmetry. The resulting shape is also folded in half, again along a line of symmetry. The final shape is a triangle. How many possibilities are there for the number of sides on the original polygon?
A: 3 B: 4 C: 5 D: 6 E: 7

Any ideas? I can think of two and then it gets all complicated.

Stanley_Marsh · 2007-05-09 13:48:33

I consider three kind of triangles 1.right triangle 2.obtuse triangle 3.acute triangle
But all I got are if not 4 sides then 6 sides polygons.

Stanley_Marsh · 2007-05-09 13:51:34

Wait , I got one more , if it's acute triangle with 45 dg both angles , the polygon can be a triangle .

Identity · 2007-05-09 20:01:13

This is 1990. No calculators are permitted, although other geometrical aids are. Questions generally tend to get harder as you go through each section, and questions 1 through 10 should pose no significant challenge.
Oh, and bear in mind, the Intermediate Division is intended for grades 9 to 10.

Last edited by Identity (2007-05-09 21:15:51)

Identity · 2007-05-13 23:16:01

Well, I kinda figured it was too time consuming to do what I did last post, so here is a file containing all the papers!

Behold!

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=7DI2J73Y

ruihan106 · 2007-05-30 14:10:02

The papers are all intermediate levels. Do you have any senior papers?

Devantè · 2007-05-30 18:28:26

Check on the website, there is at least one senior paper, and you can simply print it out and have a go at it ...

Daniel123 · 2007-05-30 21:35:59

I did the Maths Challenge a few years ago and won a Gold Certificate... I think the best advice is if you get stuck on a question, actually leave it out, because they use negative marking - so they take off marks if you get something wrong, rather than just not awarding you the marks. Other than that, I think Identity has summed up the main things you should do when attemtping the questions. You should also make sure you go over the basics e.g. fractions, decimals and percentages - as you will find many of th questions are based around simple aspects like these, but you will get them wrong if you aren't totally confident in using them.

Good luck

Last edited by Daniel123 (2007-05-30 21:36:35)

Daniel123 · 2007-05-30 21:59:26

I have just remembered - I think the mark scheme regards a 'skipped' question as wrong, and you will lose marks for it. So the best way is to answer the questions as far into the paper as you can, but us soon as you come across a question you cannot do, then stop (unless you are very sure you will get the next one right - as a right answer is worth more than a wrong). If you can, try and get to the first or second question of the harder section at the end without leaving out any, but it would then be a good idea to stop if you are starting to struggle - many people will carry on and will lose a lot of marks (2 per question).

mathsyperson · 2007-05-30 23:21:28

Are you sure? I thought that blank questions were just worth 0 marks, regardless of whether you answered any beyond that.

What I do know is that the penalties only apply in the second half of the paper, so if you're not certain about answers to the first 15 then you can guess as much as you like.

Daniel123 · 2007-05-30 23:34:53

I'm not 100% sure, but I remember our teacher telling us to not skip questions -Espeon should ask her teacher first... sorry if I'm wrong!

Devantè · 2007-05-30 23:56:46

In the 2007 JMC, you lost 5 marks for each wrong question for the first 10 questions, and you lost 6 marks for the rest of the questions. They gradually get harder, and I actually own a copy of this years JMC test paper. Should I post up the questions?

mathsyperson · 2007-05-31 00:34:32

That doesn't sound at all right. If I remember, you get 5 marks for each right answer for the first section, and you get 6 marks for each correct in the second bit.

Edit: And I've just remembered that I posted a link to the challenge earlier. The mark scheme is fully explained in the rubric.

Devantè · 2007-05-31 00:58:57

The mark scheme is different on mine ...

ruihan106 · 2007-06-02 19:00:14

Hey Devante, it will be great if you can post the JMC test paper.

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