Monday, 05 February 2007

DAMMAM: The 2007 'Mathematics Olympiad" in Dammam will include all high school students throughout the Kingdom.

Last year, only students from the Eastern Province could participate in the competition, which is organized by the mathematics department of the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM).

"By popular demand, this math competition has now been extended to all male high school students from all over the country," Dr. Monther Rashid Al-Suraidan, chairman of the competition, said.

The event is aimed to discover the most talented students in mathematics and encourage them to develop their skills in the subject, Al-Suraidan said. He added it also improves their problem-solving ability, and sparks their interest in mathematics.

Registration to participate in the Mathematics Olympiad has started and the deadline is February 28. The contest's first round will kick off on March 15, and the results will be announced on March 28. The second phase of the contest will be on April 12.

In the Eastern Province, the competition will take place at the KFUPM, while the venues in Riyadh and Jeddah will be at universities which will be announced at a later date.

"All high school male students, Saudis and non-Saudis, from both public and private schools, who have achieved a 95 percent rating and an A plus grade in mathematics, are eligible to take part in the competition," said Saleh S. Al-Shaiban, director of the KFUPM media center and a member of the competition's organization committee.

The contest covers algebra, geometry, number theory and a combination of mathematical subjects. It is divided into two rounds, with each stage becoming progressively difficult and challenging through questions and various kinds of problem-solving. While the contest is originally in Arabic, an English version will also be available for non-Arab participants.

"Talents in mathematics are manifested at an early age. Such gifts in this science need to be identified early for proper coaching and preparation, that's why we are having this contest," Al-Suraidan said. "We are trying to discover our youngsters' talents in mathematics to fully prepare them to become future leaders in basic sciences and mathematics."

300 students will be selected from the first round and competition winners will be chosen from the second round.

The top three will receive a cash prize, medal and certificate. The winner will get a SR20,000 cash prize, a gold medal, and a certificate. The runner-up will be awarded SR15,000 in cash, a silver medal and a certificate, while the second runner-up will get SR10,000, a bronze medal and a certificate.

Students in fourth, fifth and sixth place will receive SR 8,000 each as well as a certificate. Participants who obtain the seventh to tenth positions get SR5,000 each and a certificate. A laptop and certificate will be given to those who come in between the eleventh and twentieth. Winners within the 21st and 30th bracket will all be awarded watches with the Mathematics Olympiad logo.

All the students who qualified to participate in the second round will get SR 500 each.

Last year, about 120 students from the Eastern Province took part in the competition. The top 100 students were then allowed to participate in the second stage of the Olympiad. This year, the number of participants is expected to be double than that of last year.

By Joe Avance?a

© The Saudi Gazette 2007