Math Shoot-out brings 18 teams to campus

Eighteen area high schools took part in the tenth annual Ohio Northern University Mathematics Shoot Out, Oct. 9 at the Mathile Center.

The students spent the morning working in small groups to formulate solutions to a set of 60 challenging mathematics problems. After lunch, two teams, each composed of nine high schools, were formed to face off against each other in a game of Mathematics Dodgeball. During the game, members of each team could challenge members of the opposing team to present solutions to problems from the morning session. A panel of judges graded the solutions presented and award points based upon their assessment. Players accumulated points for both their team and their schools. Medals, plaques, and certificates were awarded at the end of the day.

While the high school students were preparing for the competition, mathematics and statistics department members, Drs. Tena Roepke and Bill Fuller, gave in-service workshops for the teachers who accompanied the student teams. Roepke’s workshop covered guided discovery in teaching mathematics, and Fuller’s workshop was on interesting statistics experiments that can be done in the classroom.

Participating schools were Delphos Jefferson, Ada, Allen East, Antwerp, McComb, Bellefontaine, Van Buren, Liberty-Benton, Lima Central Catholic, Old Fort, Elgin, Arcadia, North Baltimore, Lima Senior, Benjamin Logan, Leipsic, Bluffton and Perry. Each school sent a team of four student competitors. Bellefontaine was this year’s champion and will display the shoot-out trophy at their school during the next year.

Published: Tue, 10/30/2012 - 4:13pm