Nipissing University Mathematics Education, Research, & Information Centre

Math Circles (2019-20)
Coordinator: Dr. Tzvetalin Vassilev, Professor of Mathematics

NUMERIC and the Department of Computer Science and Mathematics at Nipissing University invite students from Grades 3-12 to participate in MATH CIRCLES. Math Circles are open format, informal enrichment meetings for students who enjoy mathematics and problem solving. Interested students will work on challenging problems under the guidance of Mathematics students and faculty from Nipissing University. Students can come to as many of the Circles as they want. The Math Circles will take place on a Saturday (see schedule below) from 11:30 to 2:30 pm in Rooms H109 and H110 at Nipissing University. Pizza and soft drinks will be provided to participants. This year the Math Circles will focus on problem solving in small groups, Grades 3-6, 7-9, 10-12, and will prepare the students to participate in Math Kangaroo, an international mathematical contest for school students held simultaneously in more than 70 countries around the world.

Online Registration Form

2019-20 Dates:

September 21, 2019
October 20, 2019
October 26, 2019
November 9, 2019
November 23, 2019
January 11, 2020
January 25, 2020
February 8, 2020
February 29, 2020
March 28, 2020

Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest: Nipissing University on Sunday March 22, 2020.

Below are several typical problems that students will be working on. There will be a variety of problems to suit each participant’s background in Mathematics. Students who are interested in Mathematics, interested in challenging problems and in improving problem solving skills are encouraged to attend.

PROBLEM 1: There are 25 coins of the same denomination. 24 coins are of the same weight. The remaining coin is fake and is lighter than the rest. How many weighings is required to determine the fake coin? Find the minimal number of weighings.

PROBLEM 2: You have six-digit ticket number(s): 000000 through 999999. You call a number lucky if the sum of the first three digits is the same as the sum of the last three digits (123006 is lucky, 123007 is not). How many consecutive tickets you should buy to guarantee yourself a lucky ticket?