Why start now with AMC math?

The prestigious 8th Grade American Math Competitions are targeted towards 13 to 14 year olds. Yet a few weeks ago our 10-year-old campers embarked on a mathematical journey to approach and solve AMC-8 problems! Why do we offer a class that is so advanced for the students' age level? What is so important about learning 8th-grade math?

在8年級學生(13-14歲)中享譽盛名的AMC美國數學競賽，一直備受美國高校認可。幾週前，參加我們營隊10歲的學生就開始著手解決AMC-8問題！為什麼我們提供這個課程給4-5年級的學生？學習8年級數學有什麼重要意義？

Whereas many children think of math as a systematic, dry subject in which they must simply memorise formulas and input numbers, AMC questions require a genuine understanding of the way in which math works and a creative approach to solving problems. By testing their ability to apply math to real-life situations, AMC gives students a strong foundation in problem-solving and mathematical thinking.  Throughout the week, our students worked through tens of questions involving a wide range of topics, from geometry to statistics to algebra. This immersion in pure math was one that not many of them had experienced and they enjoyed the challenge of understanding the power of unknown variables, why we calculate medians and solving simultaneous equations.

儘管許多孩子認為數學是系統的枯燥的學科，他們必須簡單地記住公式和輸入數字，但AMC的問題需要對數學的工作方式有真正的了解，並需要有創造性的解決方法。通過測試他們將數學應用於現實生活中的能力，AMC為學生提供了解決問題和數學思維的堅實基礎。在整個星期中，我們的學生研究了數十個問題，涉及從幾何到統計學到代數的廣泛主題。純粹的數學沉浸是他們中沒有多少人經歷過的，他們享受著理解未知變量的力量，為什麼要計算中位數並求解聯立方程的挑戰。

The AMC camp guided students to learn new mathematical concepts and leave equipped with essential middle-school and high-school math skills. But most importantly, our campers left with the knowledge that math is not a rigid, tedious subject, but an exciting and powerful language.

AMC訓練營指導學生學習新的數學概念，並配備基本的初中和高中數學技能。但最重要的是，我們的營隊學生們知道數學不是一門刻板，乏味的科目，而是一門令人振奮且功能強大的語言。