Math Circles (2011-12)
Coordinator: Dr. Murat Tuncali, Professor of Mathematics
NUMERIC (Nipissing University Mathematics Education Research and Information
Centre) and the Department of Computer Science and Mathematics at Nipissing
University invite students from Grades 5-12 to participate in MATH CIRCLES.
Math Circles are free, informal meetings for students who enjoy Math and
problem solving. Interested students will work on challenging problems
under the guidance of Mathematics faculty from Nipissing University and
Mathematics teachers from the North Bay area. Math Circles have been a
great success in many other communities, and some student participants
have gone on to the International Mathematical Olympiad. Students do not have to enroll, and can come to as many
of the Circles as they want. Pizza and soft drinks will be provided to
participants. This year the Math Circles will focus on problem solving in small groups, grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, and will prepare the students to
participate in Math Kangaroo, an international mathematical contest for school students held simultaneously in more than 70
countries around the world. The contest will take place at Nipissing University in March of 2012. North Bay Math Circles will take place on a Saturday from 11:30 to 2:30 pm in Room A223.
November 5, 2011
November 19, 2011
December 3, 2011
December 17, 2011
January 14, 2012
January 28, 2012
February 4, 2012
February 18, 2012
March 4, 2012
March 18, 2012
April 1, 2012
April 15, 2012
Below are two typical problems that students will be working on. There will be a variety of problems to suit each participant’s background in Mathematics. Students who are interested in Mathematics, interested in challenging problems and in improving problem solving skills are encouraged to attend.
PROBLEM 1
There are 25 coins of the same denomination. 24 coins are of the same
waight. The remaining coin is fake and is lighter than the rest. How many
weighings is required to determine the fake coin? Find the minimal number
of weighings.
PROBLEM 2
You have six-digit ticket number(s): 000000 through 999999. You call a
number lucky if the sum of the first three digits is the same as the sum
of the last three digits (123006 is lucky, 123007 is not). How many consecutive
tickets you should buy to guarantee yourself a lucky ticket?