Customer Reviews

Leningrad Mathematical Olympiads 1987-1991 (Contests in Mathematics Series ; Vol. 1)

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Whether it be known as the Soviet Union or Russia, there is a history of mathematical excellence in that country that few others can rival. The Leningrad Mathematical Olympiad is the oldest mathematics competition in Russia, having been founded in 1934 and being the impetus for other such competitions in the country.
There are several levels of the competition, starting at grade five and going through grade 10. This book presents the problems and solutions for those competitions for the years 1987 through 1991. At each level there are two sets of problems, one for the initial round and the second for the elimination round. Not only is this collection an excellent source of challenge type problems for use in middle and high school classes, competitions and clubs, they also provide insight into the level of mathematics instruction in Russia. While some of the problems are of course taxing, they are well stated and many rely more on insight rather than the application of heavy mathematical skill.
The phrase "competition problems" should mean well-stated and capable of direct solution rather than extremely difficult. These problems satisfy those requirements, and if you are looking for problems to challenge middle or high school students, this is a very good place to search.

Disclaimer: The author of this review is a member of the editorial board of The Contests in Mathematics Series.

This book is helpful in the fact that it can be used to see what kind of rating you will get before an exam.