12-year-old Pinoy got perfect score at Australian math contest

Answer this in a heartbeat:

The Fibonacci numbers are F(1)=1, F(2)=1, F(3)=2, F(4)=3, F(5)=5, F(6)=8, F(7)=13, ... where the first two are both equal to 1, and from then on, each one is the sum of the two preceding it. Of the first 2004 Fibonacci numbers, how many have 2 as their last digit?

Twelve-year-old Filipino student Farrel Eldrian Wu got it right easily—and aced the rest of the 30 questions in the Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) held on Aug. 2 worldwide.

AMC is an annual event where students from third grade until second year college (at least in the Philippines) solve a series of math problems in 60 minutes (for third to sixth grade) or 75 minutes (for seventh grade to 12th grade or second year college in the Philippines).

The contest is divided into three levels—junior (grades three to six), intermediate (grades seven to second year high school), and senior (3rd year high school to 2nd year college), said Dr. Simon Chu in a phone interview, Mathematics Trainers Guild (MTG) president.

In the country, it is supervised by the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) in cooperation with the MTG. It is held in at least four areas all over the country—one in the National Capital Region, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, said Robert Degolacion, MTG office director, in a phone interview.

Wu, a grade seven student at MGC New Life Christian Academy in Taguig City, edged out 500,000 contestants from over 30 countries worldwide in the intermediate level.

In a statement, Wu said he found the AMC questions "challenging."

“The contest paper was done creatively. The problems were written in a way that they were not the typical school problems, but instead require logical thinking and approach with solutions that are not straightforward,” he added.

Another student who got perfect score was Zhi Yi Bernard Teo of Singapore. Wu and Zhi Yi won the Peter O’Halloran Certificate, the highest award in AMC.

Chua said in a statement, “Seventy-three Filipino students among the 3,617 Filipino students who joined this year's AMC won medals and awards for belonging to the perfect scorers, 99 and 99+ percentile.

This is not the first time the Philippines faired well in the competition, said Chua.

“Every year, we are winning (at AMC), we get very excellent scores. If I remember correctly, this is the third time a Filipino got a perfect score,” said Chua.

AMC started in 1978. However, the Philippines joined the competition only by 1992. In year 2000, DOST-SEI expanded the program and had students all over the Philippines joined the competition.

Chua also said that the two-year handicap felt in other international math and science competitions was not felt at AMC.

Because the competition is divided into three levels, Filipino students are able to compete within their age-level, said Chua.

“Fairly enough, the problems suit our Basic Educational Curriculum and it does not require advanced formulas but only creative thinking," Wu said.

Wu also said he was not really aiming for a perfect score.

"After joining several math competitions, I have already learned not to focus on the awards. But instead joining a competition is already winning in itself,” Wu said.

He added, “To be given the opportunity to participate in any competition and to have the chance to answer beautiful math problems with fellow mathletes around the world are more important to me."

Other winners

This year's Filipino medalists and AMC prize awardees who belong to the top scorers and 99+ percentile are:

• Farrell Eldrian Wu - MGC New Life Christian Academy
• Andrew Brandon Ong - Chiang Kai Shek College
• John Thomas Chuatak - St. Stephen's High School
• Justin Yturzaeta - Jubilee Christian Academy

The prize awardees who belong to the 99+ percentile are:

• Bryce Ainsley Sanchez - Grace Christian College
• Eion Chua - MGC New Life Christian Academy
• Dion Stephan Ong - Ateneo de Manila Grade School
• Matthew Eric Tan - St. Stephen's High School
• Patrick Nino Policarpio - Greenpark Montessori Learning Center
• Christian Philip Gelera - UP Integrated School
• Shaquille Wyan Que - Grace Christian College
• Deany Hendrick Cheng - Grace Christian College

The high distinction certificate awardees who belong to the 99 percentile are:

• Immanuel Josiah Balete - St. Stephen's High School
• Sted Micah Cheng - Hope Christian High School
• Hiraya Marcos - Philippine Cultural College-Main
• Kaizen Naquita - SPED Integrated School de Iloilo
• Rene-John Ongchua - Solomon Integrated School de Iloilo
• Trisha Danielle Sia - Chiang Kai Shek College
• Dan Alden Baterisna - Colegio San Agustin Makati
• Adolph Monji Chen - Xavier School
• Drew Skyler Co - Jubilee Christian Academy
• Maxinee Louise Co - Ateneo de Iloilo-SMCS
• Miguel Bradford Lao - Philippine Cultural College-Main
• Jacob Peralta - PAREF Southridge School
• Steven Reyes - St. Jude Catholic School
• Trisha Denise Siy - MGC New Life Christian Academy
• Philmon Wee - Xavier School
• Juan Pablo Abola - PAREF Southridge School
• Alodia Carey Baisas - Colegio San Agustin-Binan
• Szel Leeven Embay - La Salle Academy
• John Henry Marquez - UP Integrated School
• Raymund Carlo Masbano - St. John's Institute
• Zeidrich Monares - UP Integrated School
• Stefan Marcus Ong - St. Jude Catholic School
• Lance Christian Ting - St. Stephen's High School
• Bon Leif Amalla - Colegio San Agustin-Binan
• Luke Matthews Bernardo - Philadelphia High School
• Vicente Raphael Chan - Zamboanga Chong Hua High School
• Jinger Chong - St. Jude Catholic School
• Jan Joshua Cruz - Pasig Catholic School
• Shamira Liao - St. Stephen's High School
• Jose Ignacio Locsin - St. John's Institute
• Eason Wong - Philippine Cultural College-Caloocan
• Clyde Wesley Ang - Chiang Kai Shek College
• Kyle Patrick Dulay - Philippine Science High School-Main
• Xavier Jefferson Go - Zamboanga Chong Hua High School
• Grant Aaron King - Grace Christian College
• Angelika Joie Tagupa - Colegio San Agustin-Binan
• Raphael Villaluz - Philippine Science High School-Main;
• Raymond Joseph Fadri - Makati Science High School
• Kelsey Lim Tiong Soon - Grace Christian College
• Albert Jason Olaya - Philippine Science High School-Main
• Ezekiel Christian Ong - UNO High School
• Gerald Pascua - Philippine Science High School-Main
• Vince Benedict Say - St. Jude Catholic School
• Adrian Reginald Sy - St. Jude Catholic School
• James Vincent Tan - Bayanihan Institute
• Jonn Angel Aranas - Makati Science High School
• Nathanael Joshua Balete - St. Stephen's High School
• Austin Edrich Chua - St. Jude Catholic School
• Francis Concepcion - Philippine Cultural College-Main
• Ma. Czarina Angela Lao - St. Jude Catholic School
• Reine Reynoso - Philippine Science High School-Main
• Matthew-Ryan Tan - St. Jude Catholic School
• Kaye Janelle Yao - Grace Christian College
• Karli Ang - Philippine Institute of Quezon City
• Jervis Chua - Philippine Cultural College Main
• Aaron Jevon Dy - Xavier School
• Martin Lewis Koa - St. Jude Catholic School
• Himig Marcos - Philippine Cultural College Main
• Ron Gabriel Navarro - Philippine Science High School
• Lorenzo Gabriel Quiogue - Ateneo de Manila High School
• Jason Allan Tan - Jubilee Christian Academy

–KG, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Philippines Wins 59 Math Awards

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines won 5 gold, 9 silver, 28 bronze medals, and 17 merit awards in the 2012 Asia International Mathematics Olympiad (AIMO) held recently in Hong Kong.

Included among the Filipino winners is gold medalist Lu Christian Ong of Grace Christian College, who was proclaimed champion and “Star of Asia” in the Grade 9 Division for earning the highest score among participants from nine countries.

Dr. Archieval Rodriguez, director of the Mathematics Development Academy of the Philippines (MDAP), said that aside from Ong, the country's gold medalists are Sterling Alvin Tiu of St. Stephen's High School, Natalia Varela of St. Paul College-Pasig, Thamania Keith Gumilao of Pasig Catholic College, and Anchelle Grace Ho of Silliman University SBE High School.

The silver medalists are Deanne Rochelle Abdao, Philippine Science High School; Anton Raphael Lim, St. John's Institute; Norman Earl Morado, Philippines Science High School-SMC; Floriza Andaya, First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities; Michelle Marie Ochoa, St. Paul College-Pasig, Akkiara Simon May Sawali, St. Augustine's School; Justin Bryan Chong, Grace Christian College; Ed Joshua Mañalac, Baguio City National High School; and Philip Lizarda, San Beda College Alabang.

Winning bronze medals are Karli Ang, Ian John Antonio, Richard Manuel De Castro, Mark John Dy, Marc Louie Magallanes, Emmanuel Joseph Magnaye, Himig Marcos, Rachel Rojo, Karla Dominique Tiu, Marianne Cruz, Joshua Cuballes, Francis Rumen Parungao, Viq Ashley Alentajan, Justine Myles Alquiza, James Christian Atilano, Ralph Gerarld Black, Al Matthew Canafe, Razell Jigs Caraig, Sabrina Rae Chan, Jan Ver Dominic Edra, Marie Pauline Ferrer, Ralph Joseph Lacuna, Chesca Angelica Lazara, Katrina Maniulit, Engelica Perez, Roy Matthew Ramos, Mary Joyce Tan and Jade Kathleen Yu.

The merit awardees are Gian Carlo Alix, Jone Zelita Orlina, Jerome Vincent Tagaro, Rodwick Matthew Go, Patricia Marie Yap, Camille Therese Estampador, Elijah Copla, Ma. Cathyrynne Janelle Cua, Earl Edson Dumago, Carlos Benedict Echevarria, Karljan Kotah, Jeremy John Magpantay, Dabin Park, Giorgio Romero, Sam Gamaliel Sy, Ian Denzel Sy Reyes, and John Lester Tan.

The AIMO drew participants from China, Hong, Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan.

source: mb.com.ph

Professor Suggests Dumping Algebra From Curriculum Entirely

A number of high school students and even college students have trouble with math. Specifically, these students have trouble with algebra and its offspring. This level of math can lead to significant roadblocks in the development of students’ education. According to Andrew Hacker, one in four ninth graders fail to finish high school and algebra is often to blame. So, logically, we should get rid of algebra.

Removing algebra from the list of required courses would allow more students to finish high school with the tools they need. Hacker argues that the kind of math being taught by algebra isn’t necessary in the daily lives of millions of people and therefore we should not hold ourselves to its standards. Math, itself, is important but should be more focused on things like arithmetic and balancing checkbooks. The focus should be on the kinds of things everyone is required to do at some point.

Hacker continues by stating that 57 percent of the City University of New York students didn’t pass its mandated algebra course. Another figure used to support his conclusion is that only 9 percent of men and 4 percent of women received a 700 or better on the math section of their SAT in 2009. Even with all of this evidence, one can’t help but wonder if the emphasis is being placed in the wrong place.

All of these numbers and percentages only proves that the United States is failing at mathematics — and specifically algebra and its offshoots. The struggle here shouldn’t be whether we need to drop algebra but how we can improve our ability. In a lot of ways, logic and math go hand in hand. What is algebra if not logic?

To say that we are failing and need to do something about it is absolutely correct. To say we need to remove it from our path as a hindrance rather than overcoming it with improved teaching methods, enhanced mathematics programs, and funding in general is a mistake.

source: geekosystem.com

'Too much math' - Scientists find proof

WASHINGTON - Artistic types are not the only ones whose eyes glaze over when confronted with too many numbers, according to research out Monday that suggests scientists, too, find lots of equations hard to read.

The study by researchers at the University of Bristol analyzed nearly 650 studies on ecology and evolution published in three leading journals in 1998.

They found that papers with more equations in the text were less likely to be cited in future papers, signaling that scientists may not be paying attention to research that is jammed with mathematical details.

Studies with the most math in them were referenced 50 percent less often than those with little or no math, said the study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a US peer-reviewed journal.

"This is an important issue," said Tim Fawcett, lead author of the study titled: "Heavy use of equations impedes communication among biologists."

"Nearly all areas of science rely on close links between mathematical theory and experimental work," he said.

"If new theories are presented in a way that is off-putting to other scientists, then no one will perform the crucial experiments needed to test those theories. This presents a barrier to scientific progress."

Co-author Andrew Higginson suggested that adding a bit of verbal flourish might help experts get their point across.

"Scientists need to think more carefully about how they present the mathematical details of their work," he said.

"The ideal solution is not to hide the maths away, but to add more explanatory text to take the reader carefully through the assumptions and implications of the theory."

source: interaksyon.com