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Oakland University Summer Mathematics Institute

Update on the Oakland University Summer Mathematics Institute (OUSMI)

The department continues to organize the Summer mathematics Institute for gifted high school students. Oakland University Summer Mathematics Institute (OUSMI) is a program funded by an anonymous donor. It s a free opportunity for bright and gifted pre-college students to interact with university faculty and each other, to take some challenging math classes that earn college credit, and have fun in an academic atmosphere. Admission is competitive and we usually limit the size to about 36 students. The Institute runs approximately from late June through the first week of August each summer. For the past 12 years, a number of advanced courses were offered including Number Theory, Abstract Algebra, Probability, Applied Statistics, Linear Programming, Graph Theory, Enumeration, Advanced Mathematical Thinking, Topology, Geometric Structures and Linear Algebra.

The Institute at Oakland University will provide an exciting mathematics program to stimulate the mathematical development of bright students from Southeast Michigan. Students are selected based on both exceptional talent and interest in mathematics. Those selected will generally have completed the tenth or eleventh grade, but very bright students at the ninth grade level who have exceptional talent and have accelerated their mathematical studies should also apply.

A major component of The Summer Mathematics Institute at Oakland University is the teaching of advanced undergraduate mathematical concepts from probability theory, number theory, group theory, combinatorics, graph theory, statistics, linear algebra, for college credit, in an creative environment with a high level of mathematical activity. These are interesting topics which can expand the horizons and confidence of bright students, and encourage them to work to their fullest potential. During the program the students also participate in supervised computer lab activity.

The Institute has the use of a computer laboratory reserved for the participants. Students at the Institute are given instruction on the use and ideas behind symbolic mathematical software (such as Maple or Mathematica), which enable computers to answer sophisticated mathematical questions. Students will also be encouraged to explore self-directed mathematical investigations independently.

http://www.math.oakland.edu/ousmi04/ousmi04.html

Contributed by,

Eddie Cheng

The Michigan Mathematics Prize Competition (MMPC), 2007-2008

For the years 2005 through 2008, the department has hosted the Michigan Mathematics Prize Competition. Professor Eddie Cheng is the director.

The Michigan Mathematics Prize Competition is offered by the Michigan Section of the Mathematical Association of America to encourage students to develop their interests and abilities in mathematics.

Part I of the MMPC is open to all students in Michigan high schools. This exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions involving topics from high school mathematics. From approximately 14,000 participants in Part I, the top 1,000 students are invited to take Part II of the MMPC. There students work on five challenging problems and write their solutions providing full justification and proof of their claims.

The students with the top 100 scores in the two parts of the competition are honored at an awards program. Approximately $21,000 in scholarships ranging from at least $250 to $2,600 will be awarded this year. The host institution for the 49th, 50th, and 51st MMPC, 2005-2008, is Oakland University. For the past two years, Provost Moudgil was the invited speaker of the awards ceremony.

OUSMI alums usually perform very well in MMPC. For example, in the most recent MMPC, four of the top ten awardees and 24 of the top 100 awardees are OUSMI alums. On the other hand, some of the MMPC participants learned about our OUSMU program during the awards program and decided to apply; four of the top 100 awardees joined this year’s OUSMI.

Contributed by

Eddie Cheng

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