The Beaconhouse Mathematical Olympiad (here after referred as BMO) aims to develop Mathematical skill within the students of Beaconhouse to an international standard. In these times of technological advancement, students are not just in competition with those around them, but also with those around the world. Mathematics is a core subject which is required, to a certain extent, in all spheres of life. Mathematics is crucial to the development of the analytical skills of our brain. The BMO will help improve the Mathematical problem solving skills in the participants. Beaconhouse Mathematical Olympiad will pitch participants of different grades together to inculcate a feeling of self-confidence in the participants of lower grades by competing with those of higher grades. (However, special prizes shall be reserved for teams of lower grades so as not to discourage our young participants). Through various questions of varying difficulty levels the BMO intends to make participants detail-oriented. The questions asked throughout the BMO will be of international standard and be chosen carefully to accomplish the above stated goals. 3
Tournament Structure
There will be a total of 20 - 30 teams. There will be 3 rounds in the competition. The first round (Round 1) will be held between two teams. For further details read see Rules and Regulations. The 2/3 of the teams with the highest points at the end of Round 1 will be taken forward to Round 2. The second round (Round 2) will be requiring the participants to work individually i.e. not with the help of team members. All the participants will be given an unbiased time and environment. The points secured by each participant will be added to the accumulated total of the team. Half of the teams with the highest marks will enter the final round (Round 3). The third round (Round 3) will have 2 questions each for 25 points and will be solved as a team. The Team Captain is to hand in the solution within the given time. The Team securing the highest total marks in the tournament will be named winner. There will also be two runner ups. There may be an Honorable Mention if the Judges deem it fit. 4
Rules and Regulations
1. The participants are to form a team of no more than 5 and no less than 4 student. .( average marks to be given so as not to give advantage to the larger team) 2. Every team is to have a Team Captain. 3. The students will be from grades 9-11. 4. Participants are not permitted to have any note books, textbooks, calculators (for Round 1 and Round 2), or any other mathematical aid. Any participant having non-permitted items shall be penalized and/or disqualified. 5. Further details on succeeding pages.
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1. Round 1 Team Mental Math: Participants are not to be having any textbooks, note books, calculators, writing or geometrical instruments. Asked from each team. Each team will be asked 10 questions The questions will be read twice. Participants shall not interrupt the reader. Participants shall be given 20 seconds to answer. Any participant of the group may give the answer. If the recognized participant fails to give the correct answer, the answer will be marked as wrong. The question will not be re-read. Each question will have points subsequent to the level of difficulty. Any question shall not be asked twice. 6
2. Round 2 Individual Written Evaluation: Participants are not be having any textbooks, note books, calculators etc. Only writing and geometrical instruments shall be permitted. Paper will be provided to each participant. 10-15 questions will be given which are to be answered in a time of 1 hour. The participant must work alone and there shall be no discussion even between team members. The accumulated total of the scores will be added to the teams total score. No extra time shall be granted. Workings are not required Only the answer shall be the bases of obtaining marks.
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3. Round 3 Team Structured Questions: Participants are not to be having any textbooks, notebooks etc. Participants are allowed to have calculators only. Writing and geometrical instruments are permitted. 2 questions shall be asked and the team is to work together to find the answer. The teams will be given 20-30 minutes to answer each question. The time will not be specifically for each question, but a total amount of time shall be given to complete both questions. Each question is shall have 25 points. The Team Captain will be responsible to submit the solution to the judges. The working should be clearly shown and the points are to be given according to the amount of correct working. Carry forward/ Own figure rule shall be applicable.
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Syllabus Outline
There is no set syllabus for the BMO questions. As the objective is to give a non-standard and diverse assessment, the questions will require a level of mathematical ingenuity and need the application of mathematical concepts and techniques. However, the participants of the BMO can be tested from anywhere in the fields of: 1. Arithmetic: Rate Ratio Averages Percentages 2. Number Sequences and Patterns 3. Algebra: Quadratic Equations Simultaneous Linear Equations Equations and Expressions 4. Geometry: Circle theorems Polygons Similarity and Congruency 5. Inequalities and Quadratic Inequalities 6. Functions 7. Mensuration 8. Statistics and Probability 9. Trigonometry
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Resources for Participants
For preparation, the participants may go to the following websites http://www.math.com http://everythingmaths.co.za/grade-11 http://mathworld.wolfam.com/topics/Algebra.html http://www.aplusclick.com