Moore Math Marathon
Friday, May 10, 2024 at 8:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The Albion College mathematics department is pleased to host the 7th annual Moore Math Marathon, a mathematics competition for teams of ninth and tenth grade students. It consists of three team events and one individual competition. All secondary schools in Michigan are encouraged to send a team with a teacher advisor.
Event Descriptions
The Moore Math Marathon Competition teams will consist of 4 students, at least one of whom must be a 9th grader. Each team will be accompanied by a math teacher/coach who will serve as a proctor for another team throughout the day. The competition includes both individual and team events, concluding with a mathematical scavenger hunt around the Albion campus.
- Solo Challenge: This event is a 30 question multiple choice test and lasts 25 minutes. The material on the test comes from the Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II curriculum along with other mathematics topics. Students need to work quickly and carefully. The score is the number correct. The scores of all team members are averaged for a team score in the event.
- Team Theme: The entire team works together to explore a mathematical topic, guided by a series of questions. At the end of fifty minutes, the team turns in one answer to each question. Each answer is written in the form of an essay. Answers will be judged on mathematical content, grammar, and the style in which they are written.
- Triple Play: Each team is assigned a room with a blackboard and given fifteen minutes to solve three problems. Team members need to work together and check each other’s work to solve the problems. The score is the number correct.
- Campus Coordinates: This final event is a scavenger hunt around the Albion campus. Students will work as a team to solve problems whose answers will direct them to specific buildings or landmarks around campus. This event is not included in the score for the awards, but the first team to complete the event will receive a separate prize.
Event Schedule
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:45 - 9:15 a.m. | Registration Location: Norris Lobby |
| 9:15 - 9:20 a.m. | Welcome Ceremony Location: Norris Auditorium |
| 9:20 - 9:45 a.m. | Advisor's Meeting Location: Norris 100 |
| 9:20 - 10:00 a.m. | Solo Challenge Location: Norris Auditorium |
| 10:05 - 10:55 a.m. | Team Theme |
| 11:00 - 11:15 a.m. | Triple Play |
| 11:20 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Lunch Location: Baldwin |
| Begins at noon | Special Topic Exploration Location: Science Center Atrium |
| 12:45 - 1:15 p.m. | Campus Coordinates |
| 1:20 - 1:50 p.m. | Award Ceremony Location: Norris Auditorium |
Contestant Instructions
No calculators can be used in any contest. No notes or other outside materials can be used. Cell phones and other electronic devices are prohibited. Bring pencils for your own use.
Solo Challenge
Each multiple choice question on this test has five possible answers. Choose the single best answer for each question. You are not expected to be able to completely solve each problem in the time allotted. However, because the score is the number correct, be sure to select an answer for every question.
Team Theme
- Your team has 50 minutes to answer a series of questions asking you to explore a topic.
- Your team must turn in at most one answer to each question. The answers must be numbered and written in order, but you may skip problems if you choose. Number the pages you turn in.
- Your answers will be judged on the clarity and correctness of the writing style as well as on mathematical correctness.
- Organize your team and time in any way you decide is best. Only team members may be in the room during the essay. You may not bring any notes, books or calculators into the room.
- A proctor will be just outside the room and will warn you 10 minutes before your time is up. Give your answer sheets to the proctor at the end of the period to place in the inner envelope. Clean up all scratch paper.
Triple Play
Your team has 15 minutes to solve 3 problems. You may organize your team effort any way you like. Nobody but team members may be in the classroom during the event. Write your team’s answers on the answer sheet provided. All answers must be simplified. A proctor will get you started and will give you a 2-minute warning. Give only the answer sheet to the proctor at the end of the 15 minutes. Clean up all scratch paper. No calculators, notes, or books are allowed.
Proctors’ Instructions
Each team advisor proctors another team in the Team Theme and Triple Play competitions. Proctoring instructions for these events follow. Please remind students that they cannot use calculators, cell phones, notes or other materials in any contest. Students should bring their own pencils. Please bring a watch that marks seconds for your own use. The proctoring materials you need will be handed out at an advisors’ meeting in the morning, where you can raise any questions or concerns you may have.
Team Theme
The room number where you will proctor the theme is listed in the program and marked on the envelope you will receive at the advisors’ meeting. Make sure no books, calculators, cell phones, or other materials are in the room. Do not open the Theme envelope until the students are ready to begin. An extra copy of the Theme is included for you to keep and look over as you wish. Distribute the questions and the tablet of paper on which the answers are to be written. Teams should identify each page to be graded with their school name. The Theme lasts 50 minutes. Remain near but outside the room throughout the event. Inform the team when they have 10 minutes remaining. At the end of the 50 minutes collect and put all (and only) the answer pages inside thesmall envelope. Put the small envelope and remaining paper inside the large envelope. Keep the large envelope and start the Triple Play in the same room. A Marathon volunteer will come by to pick up the Theme envelope.
Triple Play
- Do not open the Triple Play envelope until it is time to begin. Make sure that no books, calculators, cell phones, or other materials are in the room.
- Distribute the question sheet, answer sheet, and paper. Keep a copy of the problems for your solving pleasure.
- The Triple Play lasts only 15 minutes. Remain near but outside the room throughout the Huddle. Inform the team when they have 2 minutes remaining.
- At the end of the 15 minutes, collect the answer sheet and scratch paper and put them inside the envelope.
- Take the envelope with you and go to Baldwin for lunch. A Marathon volunteer will be there to pick up the Triple Play envelope.