The
contest has been annually held in summer for 15 years, and is open for high
school students in Gunma (hidden gem of Japan, and where I live). In this
contest, attendees try to solve 4 problems in 3 hours with their own approach.
Problems
look like puzzles rather than school test and they can use calculator or
scissors or anything you can think of, because ‘how they approach’ to the
solution is the key in this event. This year, there were almost 400 attendees,
and 43 students won prize.
After
the contest, there’s Math Camp held in the middle of forest. There’s beautiful
institute of Tokyo University Mathematical Sciences in Tambara plateau, Gunma.
And their graduates invite Gunma’s high school students to give an introduction
of ‘real mathematics world’ in the camp.
I’ve
heard that this institute was modeled on MFO in Germany. According to what I’ve
researched, mathematicians need nice and quiet (or isolated) place with a little
walkway.. oh why, Gunma is more than perfect! (Photo: Tokyo university MS faculty)
Whole
purpose of these events is to give students opportunities to experience the “real
math”.. which is different from what students learn at school. I found this
fantastic, and hoping more and more kids joining this contest to discover something
new. They may hate ‘school math’ but the glimpse of ‘real math’ may change
their mind.
The
“Real Math”… I didn’t even know the existence of it up until quite lately, and… I guess I will write more about this next time..
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