Math Kangaroo March 15

What:

Cal State Fullerton’s Mathematics Department is hosting a Math Kangaroo competition with 48 elementary, junior high and high school students from Southern California schools participating. It’s the university’s third year as a host for this worldwide contest involving more than 5 million students.

When:

Thursday, March 15
6 to 7:15 p.m.

Where:

Cal State Fullerton, McCarthy Hall Rooms 465 and 491
800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, 92831

Who:

Southern California students in first through 12th grades will compete in a 75-minute, multiple-choice test. Children in grades first through fourth answer 24 questions; older students answer 30 questions. Parents, students and community members are invited to attend. Bogdan Suceavă, associate professor of mathematics, is the event organizer. He is assisted by graduate student Carol Kempiak.

Why:     

“The purpose of the event is twofold: young students have the chance to compete in a challenging math contest, develop skills, build self-confidence — and have fun learning math. At the same time, our math education students learn how to organize such contests for their future work as teachers,” said Suceavă. “As math educators, our job is to train future teachers, so I feel it’s our duty to offer this competition to local students to incite their interest in mathematics.”

Goals:     

Math Kangaroo’s goals include: encouraging students to master their mathematical knowledge, giving them confidence in their ability to comprehend mathematics, helping them understand how mathematics applies in nature's laws and human activities, and developing their ability to derive pleasure and satisfaction through intellectual life.

Photo Opp:     

Each student in the competition hosted by CSUF receives a T-shirt with a mathematical theme and certificate of participation.

Media Contacts:     

Bogdan Suceavă, Mathematics, 657-278-7535 or bsuceava@fullerton.edu

Debra Cano Ramos, 657-278-4027 or dcanoramos@fullerton.edu