Math Programming Competition

 The UC Davis Secondary School Math Programming Competition provides students in secondary schools with the opportunity to apply their fundamental computer programming skills for applications in mathematics. Being the gatekeeper to STEM careers, mathematics is necessary for all secondary school students. This competition challenges students to apply their programming skills to solve math problems. Students will use structured programming in C, including basic programming concepts such as variables, math expressions and operators, selection statements, and loops for computer-aided math problem solving.

More high resolution photos are available on C-STEM Flickr page.

Early registration deadline: March 8, 2013
Final registration deadline: March 22, 2013
Date for Programming Competition & Awards Ceremony: UCD C-STEM Day, May 4, 2013

(A synopsis of the 2013 UC Davis C-STEM Day on May 4, 2013.)

More information can be found in the Call For Participation.

The handout for C-STEM Day is now available to view. It has everything but the challenges which will be included on the printed version. Handout.

Competition Schedule

The schedule for Math Programming Competition on May 4, 2013 is available HERE.

Sample Problems

Here is a small sample set of problems from the 2012 Math Programming Competition.

Problems

Solutions

Competition Categories

There are two categories for the competition:

• Category I: Up to Algebra I (including Pre-Algebra and Algebra I in the Common Core Math Standard)
  • Requirements:
    1. Team members are currently enrolled in Algebra I or Pre-Algebra at the time of the competition
    2. They should have not completed Algebra I at the time of the competition
    3. Team members can be from Elementary, Middle or High Schools
• Category II: With more advanced math up to Algebra II (including Algebra I, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Algebra II)
  • Requirements:
    1. No restriction on academic standing
    2. Team members can be from Elementary, Middle, or High School

Rules

• Team members can be from Elementary, Middle or High Schools
• One computer installed with the C/C++ interpreter Ch (including on-line references for standard C functions) will be provided for each team. Use of other electronics during the competition, including other computers, calculators, cell phones, and other computing devices is not allowed.
• Each student may bring a set of notes or book. Any other sources or references will not be allowed. There will be no internet access during the competition. If a team is caught using the internet during the competition, the team will be disqualified
• Once the competition has begun, the teams may speak to the Judges for clarification on problems, but should not talk to anyone else outside of their team.
• Contestants will be given three hours to solve as many problems as possible from a handout that will be given the day of the competition.
• The Competition will last three hours. Fifteen minutes will be given to orient themselves with the computer they will be using. The remaining time will be used to solve the math programming problems.
• Problems can be completed in any order. Points will only be awarded for fully completed problems. The program file should be named as follows:
  • TeamName_problem_#.c
  • Example: RiverCityHighSchool_Team1_problem_2.c

Team Registration

Registration is available for all four C-STEM Competitions: REGISTER HERE.

• Each team can have 2 to 3 students
• Each teacher can sponsor up to two teams in any category
• Teams must register before the deadline to assure that there is enough space for all teams on the day of the competition
• Teams that register before the early registration deadline must pay a registration fee of $60 per team
• Teams that register before the final registration deadline must pay a registration fee of $80 per team
• All checks must be received by the final registration deadline
• T-Shirts and Lunch Tickets may be purchased separately for $15 a piece.

Organizer

The UC Davis K-14 Outreach Center for Computing and STEM Education (C-STEM)

Co-Organizers

UC Davis Computing and Robotics Outreach Club
UC Davis Integration Engineering Laboratory

Contact

Uma Parakala, Email: ulparakala(AT)ucdavis(DOT)edu