Count Down : The Race for Beautiful Solutions at the International Mathematical Olympiad

English

ISBN: 0618562125

EAN: 9780618562121

Category: Mathematics / General

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Trade & Reference Publishers

Release Date: 07/31/2005

Synopsis: In Count Down, Steve Olson sets out to crack a secret: what inspires a select few average-seeming American teens to become wizards at the worlds toughest math competition? Olson shadows the six charming U.S. contestants at the 2001 International Mathematical Olympiad, from their free-time games of Ultimate Frisbee to the high-pressure rounds of the competition, getting to the core of what drives these young people and makes them such nimble problem solvers. In each he finds a mix of inspiration, insight, competitiveness, talent, creativity, and experience, and, perhaps most important, an enduring sense of wonder. As he observes the competitors, Olson delves into math culture and education, exploring why many American students dread geometry, why so few girls pursue competitive math, and whether each of us might have a bit of genius waiting to be nurtured. For parents, teachers, students, and kindred puzzle-lovers, Count Down reveals an engaging approach to the art of beautiful solutions.

Excerpt: Unknown Property Excerpt

Count Down : The Race for Beautiful Solutions at the International Mathematical Olympiad

Illustrated: Yes

Format: Paperback

Height: 0.63 inches

Width: 5.5 inches

Length: 8.25 inches

Weight: 9.45 oz

Pages: 256