Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

David · 2014-05-27 00:52:32

Hello everyone,
The reason I'm posting this topic is because I NEED HELP! My school forced me to join the OMK (Math Olympaid). I'm only 14 and my school gave me a bunch of books to read during the holidays (Which is right now) and below is the list of things I should read :

1) Algebra
• Equation (linear, quadratic, system of simultaneous equations)
• Arithmetic and geometric progressions
• Algebraic identities
• Polynomials and their roots
• Inequalities
• Functions

2) Combinatorics
• Counting Principles
• Permutations and Combinations
• Enumerative Combinatorics
• Pigeohole Principle

3) Number Theory
• Primes and Composite Numbers
• Divisibility
• Divisibility Tests
• Last Digit Analysis
• Parity
• Diophantine Equations

4) Geometry
• Geometric Calculations (angle, length, areas)
• Triangles
• Quadrilaterals
• Polygons
• Trigonometric Identities

If someone is nice enough to explain it to me and tell me what to read online on MIF It would be great!

bobbym · 2014-05-27 01:00:29

Look here to start on algebra:

http://www.mathsisfun.com/sphider/searc … h&search=1

There are many more.

ShivamS · 2014-05-27 01:00:35

You can not succeed on an Olympiad by online resources. You need books.

bobbym · 2014-05-27 01:01:24

That is certainly true but does he know the basics?

David · 2014-05-27 01:04:08

No, I have a bunch of books already. But I don't understand the basics that's why I'm asking for help.

ShivamS · 2014-05-27 01:06:13

There are books which teach the basics.

bobbym · 2014-05-27 01:09:50

Then why not use both?

David · 2014-05-27 01:17:40

How you learn maths by reading books :
Read... Read... Do... Read

How you learn maths on a website (or in this case a forum) :
Read... Do... Interection.... Help...

I prefer to learn the basic here. Because the contents in MIF and mathopolis is more than enough to learn. In fact, even the advanced levels of maths can we learn online here. The tranditional way or learning math vs the modern way to learn maths, I pick the modern way. (Not that I don't like books or something, I can't ask my books for help, right?)

bobbym · 2014-05-27 01:21:36

You should use both, when I was learning we did not have a forum like this where you can ask a question. I had to learn from books. You have more choices.

ShivamS · 2014-05-27 01:23:13

Forums are good, but unfortunately there are no good intermediate level online resources. There are good ones for lower level (e.g. Mathisfun) and for university (e.g. MIT OCW). Nothing in between,

bobbym · 2014-05-27 01:26:46

That is a problem for everyone who is self taught. You might think there are many intermediate books oput there but that is because you have a good education behind you. I found the jump from lower to advanced extremely difficult.

bobbym · 2014-05-27 01:34:18

I was only able to learn by using my CAS and programmable calculators as tutors. There was no one to ask and books just seemed to be written for people who already knew the field.

ShivamS · 2014-05-27 01:34:49

For combinatorics, see Mathematics of Choice: Or, How to Count Without Counting by Niven (this is one book).

bobbym wrote:

That is a problem for everyone who is self taught. You might think there are many intermediate books oput there but that is because you have a good education behind you. I found the jump from lower to advanced extremely difficult.

I am completely self-taught as well. I learned all high school mathematics by myself before coming to university, learned calculus, real analysis, complex analysis, linear algebra etc before covering it in university etc.

Last edited by ShivamS (2014-05-27 01:41:21)

bobbym · 2014-05-27 01:36:09

Those are 2 great combinatorics books! I suggest the Vilenkin and Tucker book too.

ShivamS · 2014-05-27 01:40:31

bobbym wrote:

Those are 2 great combinatorics books! I suggest the Vilenkin and Tucker book too.

Where is the second book? I only wrote one.

I think Tucker and Vilenkin are too complicated for him right now. So it Niven, but he only needs the first few chapters and the chapters near the middle or end on probability and combinatorial geometry.

Last edited by ShivamS (2014-05-27 01:40:57)

bobbym · 2014-05-27 01:46:02

Sorry, had a hallucination. I was thinking of his number theory book.

I think Tucker and Vilenkin are too complicated for him right now.

That is why he will need MathsisFun and Mathopolis first. Except I would have him learn generating functions before binomials, the Tucker book is the best teaching guide for gf's that I know of.

ShivamS · 2014-05-27 01:48:02

bobbym wrote:

Sorry, had a hallucination. I was thinking of his number theory book.
I think Tucker and Vilenkin are too complicated for him right now.
That is why he will need MathsisFun and Mathopolis first. Except I would have him learn generating functions before binomials, the Tucker book is the best teaching guide for gf's that I know of.

I agree.

Tucker is used in an honors university introductory course.

bobbym · 2014-05-27 01:56:01

That book can even teach a bumpkin how to use a gf to solve a combinatorics problem. One of my favorites. But it still might be inferior to someone on a forum that read it and is willing to explain it.

ShivamS · 2014-05-27 01:58:07

Really? I skimmed it about a 2 years back and didn't understand most of it.

bobbym · 2014-05-27 02:06:56

My opinion would be that a computational guy would absorb it faster.

David · 2014-05-27 12:44:48

Thanks for the suggestion guys, but what other books would you prefer me to read? I want to learn maths all the way till advanced levels.

ShivamS · 2014-05-27 12:46:01

Do you want to learn the math properly or stupidly (i.e. the way it is taught in schools)?

David · 2014-05-27 13:04:19

Properly.

ShivamS · 2014-05-27 13:09:12

Basic Mathematics by Lang
Elementary and Intermediate Algebra by Sullivan (this is one book - there are two separate books as well but get the book with both of them)
Precalculus by Sullivan
Geometry by Jacobs (1st or 2nd edition)

Go through these books (they are all very cheap - you can get them for under 100 Malaysian Ringgit) and you will have the best mathematics education available. Many of those are also available online - if you want to go through them, I will link it.

David · 2014-05-27 13:26:06

Thanks, I will have to go look for the books online, because I am 100% sure these books are not being sold here.

Math Is Fun Forum

#1 2014-05-27 00:52:32

Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

#2 2014-05-27 01:00:29

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

#3 2014-05-27 01:00:35

Re: Math Olympaid (OMK - In Malaysia)

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#5 2014-05-27 01:04:08

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#7 2014-05-27 01:09:50

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#17 2014-05-27 01:48:02

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#20 2014-05-27 02:06:56

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