Competitive Math Classes: 2/17/21 - 3/4/21
Written by Adrish Kar
The FRC Skywalkers independently conducted and taught a free 6-week rigorous competitive mathematics course to 40 elementary and middle school students. This class was centered towards preparing students for the AMC 8, the most prestigious math competition for students in 8th grade and under. The teachers (Adrish Kar, Rishatvik Ramoshan, Rishita Dhalbisoi, Namita Nair) compiled a comprehensive curriculum which included a combination of fundamental and advanced concepts spanning from basic arithmetic and geometry to powerful algebraic and combinatorial identities. The curriculum also included a diagnostic test, which included assorted problems that tested students’ mathematical aptitude in the 4 main areas of contest math –Number Theory, Algebra, Counting and Probability, and Geometry– and was individually crafted by the teachers themselves. The classes were conducted over Zoom and Google Classroom was used to post assignments and course content. The essential motivation behind the class was to spread the seemingly contagious fascination with the intricate yet elegant nature of mathematics while also helping our students develop their problem-solving skills.
Here is our curriculum’s 6-week split:
Week 1: Diagnostic Test, Word Problems (rate, distance, time, basic arithmetic and number theory)
Week 2: Geometry (areas and volumes, similarity & congruence, cevians of triangles, Heron’s Formula, Ravi substitution)
Week 3: Geometry cont. (analytical/coordinate geometry, Shoelace Theorem, properties of polygons)
Week 4: Counting and Probability (measures of central tendency, permutations & combinations, stars and bars)
Week 5: Algebra (operations with polynomials, calculations utilizing Vieta’s formulas, functions, SFFT)
Week 6: Review of 2020 AMC 8, Miscellaneous Topics (logic, PIE (≤ 3 sets), power of a point, etc.)
The class was held on Wednesdays, 5:30-7:00 PM. After each concept we covered in class, we went over our set of handpicked problems which we thought would serve to reinforce our students’ conceptual learning.
In the face of the pandemic, we really enjoyed conducting the course and loved working and interacting with each and every one of our students! As always, the Skywalkers are eager to see how the future generation of STEAMers will change the world!