Wednesday, November 21, 2001
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Wednesday, November 21, 2001 |
Math teams score high in Multiplexer competitionTry answering the following question: A projectile is fired with a speed of 80 meters per second at an angle of 60 degrees above the horizon. What is the speed of the projectile when it is at an elevation of 100m? Five talented math team students at Starr's Mill High School would have no trouble calculating the correct answer of 67 m/s. Bob Martin, Ryan Anderson, Ryan Duckworth and Jon Straub placed third as a team during the 2001 Georgia Institute of Technology Multiplexer, a hybrid math/science/engineering tournament conducted annually for high school students. This year's tournament, which took place on the university's campus, covered the areas of algebra, physics, geometry, chemistry, logic and trigonometry. The competition is designed to introduce students to the physical campus, engineering disciplines and academic programs offered at Georgia Tech. The test introduces various basic engineering concepts and gives fundamental problems from the variety of majors available at the school. According to team sponsor Annette Kersey, the Multiplexer is one of the most challenging competitions that the math team participates in because not only do students have to be proficient in math, they also have to have a strong background in science. Last year the team placed sixth in the competition. "The questions that the students have to answer are extremely difficult. I am just thrilled to death that we took third place this year. The competition was very stiff so I am very proud of these students," Kersey said. There were 50 teams from throughout the state that competed in the Multiplexer. Only teams that had the top three scores received trophies from the competition. Starr's Mill was the only high school in Fayette to take home a team trophy. Fayette County High School placed ninth, Sandy Creek High School 12th, and McIntosh High School took 21st place. Competitions such as the Multiplexer not only give students an environment to test their knowledge against their peers, it also helps them improve their academic skills. "When I woke up on the Saturday of the competition to a wet and dreary morning, I thought about the dedication of the teachers and students who got up to go to Georgia Tech to improve their math skills," says Kay Seabolt, math coordinator for the Fayette County School System. "To place third in the state in a big competition like the Multiplexer is a great honor for our school system. Even those who did not place in the top three deserve high praise for their participation and willingness to expand their skills."
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