Math Day at the Beach

March 4th,2008
By Patrice Ewell
Time ticked away as students from local area high schools tapped their fingers on their desks while solving math problems at the 9th Annual Celebration of Math Day in the USU Ballroom B last Saturday.
More than 200 students from grade ninth through 12th competed for trophies and certificates in individual and team rounds solving math problems. Forty California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) students, faculty, staff and members in the math and statistics department volunteered hours of their service in the program.
Students were not allowed to use calculators and they did not. The competitors enthusiastically cheered their opponents on as well as parents and teachers.
Jeffrey Manning, a student homeschooled in Pasadena, won first place in the individual awards competition for answering the most problems accurately.
During the “Relay” competition, a team of three people were given a total of six minutes to solve statistics problems. Some students broke the rules by talking to each other while the volunteer proctors waited patiently for their answers.
From twisting their hair and tapping their pencils on their desks simultaneously, the students gave a vibe of anxiety during problem solving.
Shotarl Makisumi, a contestant who competed for the awards, held the world record for speed solving the cubic cube and juggling balls at the same time blindfolded. He attributed math problem solving and having fast fingers to this special skill.
The schools chose groups of six who competed as a team and individuals for the independent events, prizes and trophies.
Richard Rosezyk, The American Regions Math League web site founder, kept the students engaged in stock market problem solving during their lunch break.
CSULB Math and Statistics Department sends out letters each year to local area high schools informing them about the competition. Many students participate for fun or to prepare them for college courses.
Long Beach Poly, Long Beach Jordan, Millikan, Cabrillo, CAMS, Los Alamitos, Garr, Cypress, Palos Verdes and Torrance West were a few of the local area high schools who participated in the event.
Many volunteers there were math educators and the majority either obtained a bachelor or masters degree.
“For many volunteers looking to become educators, the event enables them to network with high school teachers who could share with them their expertise,” said M.Tip Phovibul, a volunteer from the CSULB Math and Statistics Department.
Robert Mena, Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics hosted the event, which is annually held in March.
“The Southern California ARML Team and Long Beach Math Circle meet once a month for three hours at CSULB,” said Ohovibul. “The organization centers activities on mathematical problem solving independently as well as in groups. The meetings are announced on the web site: www.csulb.edu/depts/math/arml.”
The program also recruits high school students to CSULB’s very own Math and Statistics Program, according to Ohovibul.
Pacific Life Foundation has been funding the program for several years now as well as Associated Students Inc., LBS Federal Credit Union, Forty-niner shops, Parking, Transportation & Event Services, Art of Problem Solving and CSULB University College & Extension Services.