Math contest encourages students to "Go Figure"

Contact: Steve Sandoval, steves@lanl.gov, (505) 665-9206 (04-085)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Oct. 25, 2004 -- Budding mathematicians are invited to compete in Los Alamos National Laboratory's sixth annual Go Figure Mathematical Challenge Oct. 30 in Santa Fe, Los Alamos and Española.

The contest is open to students in grades 7 through 12 and any interested students are welcome to participate on their own initiative, regardless of sponsorship. Parents are especially encouraged to have students participate. The contest is from 9 a.m. to noon, at Los Alamos Middle School, Rooms 111 and 112; Española Middle School's Main Library; and Santa Fe Indian School's Lecture Hall. Registration begins at 9 a.m.; the challenge starts at 9:30 a.m., and ends at noon. Participants should bring sharpened pencils but not calculators.

"The goal of the 'Go Figure' competition is to identify young people with talent in mathematics," said Rick Alexander of Los Alamos' Education Programs Office. "Many of these students may not demonstrate a latent talent in math in the usual ways and their talent goes unrecognized. Mathematics and algebra are the building blocks for all the scientific disciplines. Without a solid foundation that includes mathematics, a students' opportunities are limited."

Problems for the contest will range from easy to challenging, but most will require only basic arithmetic. Some problems are designed to test the contestants' ingenuity and ability to apply what they have learned. The test results are used to identify talented students who-along with their parents and teacher/advisor-will be invited to a recognition banquet to be held at Cities of Gold Hotel Conference Center on Nov. 13. At least one prize will be awarded in each grade level category. High achievers may also receive recognition via Web postings and in local media.

A sample test is available at http://stb.lanl.gov:8080/wosaserver/web?pg=/education/skills/math/index.xml online. For more information, contact Rick Alexander at 505-665-4373.

Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the National Nuclear Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy and works in partnership with NNSA's Sandia and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories to support NNSA in its mission.

Los Alamos enhances global security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, developing technical solutions to reduce the threat of weapons of mass destruction and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health and national security concerns.