Lincoln (Neb.) - Oct. 25, 1999 - The University of Nebraska- Lincoln campus will become a hotbed of mathematical problem- solving and conjecture Nov. 11 when 1,485 students (a record attendance for the event) from 102 Nebraska secondary schools come together for the 10th annual Math Day. This year's field includes Morrill High School, which will travel some 450 miles to Lincoln, the farthest distance yet for a Math Day entry. Morrill is coached by Traci Patterson.
A total of $34,000 in four-year scholarships will be awarded to the top 10 individuals at Math Day. The competition is sponsored by the department of mathematics and statistics, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Chancellor's Office and Gallup Organization. Gallup also supports scholarships through a grant.
Math Day's purpose is to stimulate interest in mathematics among Nebraska high school students, to encourage them to pursue mathematics or mathematics-based science as a career, and to recognize mathematical ability by awarding scholarships, certificates, and trophies.
The number of Math Day participants has grown steadily. In 1997, Math Day hosted 1,167 students from 93 Nebraska high schools. 1998 attendance was restricted by the renovation of the Student Union.
Participants in Math Day compete in one individual and two team mathematics competitions, learn about majors and departments, obtain career information, and enjoy recreational activities.
All students participate in a multiple-choice, preliminary exam called PROBE I (Problems Requiring Original and Brilliant Effort) from 9-10 a.m. in Nebraska Union. The top three males and top three females on this exam will receive plaques. The top 50 students overall move on to take the PROBE II exam from 11:50 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. in the Union.
The top 10 students on PROBE II will be awarded a total of $34,000 in four-year scholarships to UNL. The questions on each exam assume only two years of high school algebra and one year of geometry, but the PROBE II questions require exceptional creativity and originality from the students.
Teams are grouped by class for the team competitions, one of which is based on the scores from the PROBE I test; the other is a double-elimination tournament between three-member teams. The first eight rounds of the tournament are from 1:15-3:15 p.m. in the Lied Center and the championship rounds are from 3-4 p.m. in the Union Auditorium. Trophies are awarded to the top two teams in each competition.
Results will be posted on the World Wide Web (http://www.math.unl.edu/~mathday).
In addition to the competitions, students can participate in mathematical games and puzzles from 12:30-3 p.m. in the Union ballroom, and the NU Office of Admissions will offer campus tours to groups of students and parents. Math Day sponsors provide lunch for the students in residence hall cafeterias.
A list of competing schools follows.
Ashland-Greenwood, Auburn, Aurora, Battle Creek, Beatrice, Bellevue East, Bellevue West, Bertrand, Broken Bow, Bruning, Cedar Bluffs, Chase County, Chester-Hubbell-Byron, Coleridge, Columbus Lakeview, Davenport, David City, Deshler, Diller, Dorchester, Elgin Pope John, Elkhorn High School, Elkhorn Middle School, Elkhorn Mt. Michael, Elmwood-Murdock, Exeter, Fairbury, Falls City, Franklin, Freeman, Fremont, Friend, Garden County, Gibbon, Grand Island Central Catholic, Hastings St. Cecilia, Heartland, Hebron, Howells, Humphrey St. Francis.
Johnson-Brock, Kearney, Keya Paha County, Lakeside Central, Lewiston, Lincoln Children's Zoo Science Focus Program, Lincoln College View Academy, Lincoln East, Lincoln High, Lincoln Northeast, Lincoln Pius X, Lincoln Southeast, Lindsay Holy Family, Madison, McCook, Mead, Millard North, Millard South, Morrill, Nebraska City, Nebraska City Lourdes, Nebraska Lutheran, Neligh-Oakdale, Nemaha Valley, Norris.
Omaha Brownell-Talbot, Omaha Central, Omaha Central
Christian, Omaha Creighton Prep, Omaha Duchesne, Omaha Mercy,
Omaha North, Omaha Skutt, Omaha South, Omaha Westside, O'Neill
St. Mary's, Palmyra, Papillion-LaVista, Plainview, Plattsmouth,
Ralston, Ravenna, Schuyler, Seward, Southeast Consolidated,
Southern Valley, Spalding, Sterling, Superior, Sutton, Syracuse-
Dunbar-Avoca, Table Rock-Steinauer, Tecumseh, Tri County, Wahoo,
Wauneta-Palisade, Waverly, Weeping Water, West Point Central
Catholic, Wilber-Clatonia, Wilcox, Yutan.
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