Delta-K Volume 33 Issue 3

Journal of the Mathematics Council of the Alberta Teachers’ Association

Volume 33 Issue 3, December 1996

I am very pleased that Mathematics for Gifted Students, which appeared in 1989, was very well received, and grateful that the Alberta Teachers’ Association has entrusted me with the editing of this sequel. Of the five articles in MfGSl, two were from North America and three from Western Europe For this edition, I have solicited articles from South America, Asia, Oceania, Eastern Europe and Africa.

Maria de Losada reminds us of the long and glorious tradition of mathematics. With the information revolution in full rage, we seem to be forever going back to the future. However, a journey to the past can be equally rewarding in the general quest for knowledge as well as in the particular context of mathematics competitions.

Pak-Hong Cheung and Zonghu Qiu describe the elaborate structure for and meticulous care in the construction of competition problems for elementary school students. The appropriateness of contests for students in this age group has often been debated. The authors highlight positive aspects of competition and also identify some pitfalls to avoid.

Derek Holton takes the reader on a personal tour of problem-solving, with introspective and humorous commentary. Andris Cibulis presents a fascinating problem on building blocks which young children may be encouraged to explore, though the complete solution is far from being easy. John Webb gives a behind-the-scenes look at South Africa’s triumphant entry into the International Mathematical Olympiad.

I would like to thank my friends and colleagues who have brought a global perspective to mathematics education to Alberta. The student projects in Appendix I show that the process is not a one-way street: our young people can also make significant contributions.

Andy Liu

Front Matter

Guest Editor’s Comments

Andy Liu

1 – 6

History – A Great Source of Challenging Problems

Maria de Losada

7 – 10

Primary School Mathematics Olympiad in China

Pak-Hong Cheung & Zonghu Qiu

11 – 14

Changing Tires