Customer Reviews

Math Olympiad Contest Problems Volume 2

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My son is in 4th grade and has just started to participate in Math Olympiad contest. I found this book to be quite handy that he can practice with it, and have discussions with me on his solutions (or non-solutions), then compare with the result from the book. We found it entertaining that there are often alternative strategies seen from the book or coming on our own that we can cross study. Highly recommended.

well constructed questions.

The best parts are the hint and strategy. Save parents lots of time to find answers that is understandable to kids.

This is not just another book with just Q & A, the strategy part actually takes over more than half of the volume.

Beautiful book for serious math kids to have some deep thinking and fun.

I purchased this book for my son who was a 4th grader to prepare for participating in Math Olympiad. The structure of the book is excellent. There are sections of hints and solutions. After my son tried hard to understand the math problems for a few times, I allowed him to know the hints. After he finished one set, I went through the five problems with him and reviewed the different strategies/solutions. The process definitely enlighten my son and helped him learn new skills.

This book (as well as the previous Olympiad book #1) is extraordinary. The problems are difficult, make kids think, need deep and careful interpretation and digesting, and nevertheless are bite-sized and do not require advanced math techniques. Most problems can be done in 4-7 minutes. Students can figure out what's going on with very dedicated thought and poking around at reasonable answers, and then a teacher/parent can show the relevant techniques/algebra if the students are ready for it. (And the book has lots of hints/answers/techniques in the back.)

The greatest thing about the book is that students can see clearly how difficult it is, but because the problems are so manageable, they will work and try and finally get there. It's a real sense of accomplishment to just finish a few of these problems, whereas in class the students usually get dozens of absurdly simple problems they're meant to perform flawlessly; where's the accomplishment there?

I have used these books extensively in 5th-7th grade math clubs and classrooms. (It's too hard for 90% of 5th graders, 80% of 6th graders, and 70% of 7th graders.) The kids gain essential skills in interpretation and meaning that they don't get when doing standard problems. For that purpose--if what you want is the most straightforward presentation of the middle school math basics--buy the Spectrum Math for grades 7 or 8. These are fabulous skill-building and practice books.

My child started this book as a 5th grader. We started volume 2 because the contests for elementary division and middle school division are separated in the second volume. In the first volume, there is only one division and problems at middle school level can frustrate an elementary student. After completing all the problems in the elementary division in this book and learning more middle school math, my child worked through the problems in the first volume, and then back to the middle school division of this book. There are five problems in each contest and it takes about 20 minutes to complete. After working through this book and the first volume, my child made a very easy transition to MathCounts preparation. I would recommend this book and volume 1 to any young students showing interest in mathematics.

This book is a good move from the first volume. The problems range from easy to challenging but each set is a repeat of the last using a different context. The math concepts covered by the problems are the same which is different from the first volume. Too much of a repeat.