Starting  Math  Competitions  –  By  AoPS  User  Nitzuga  (October  2013)  

So  you  are  “skilled”  in  math.  Maybe  you  got  into  the  advanced  classes  and  you  don’t  even  study  
for  tests.  Naturally,  you  think  that  you  will  be  able  to  answer  all  of  the  MATHCOUNTS  questions  
too.   And   then   you   read   some   of   the   questions.   Wow.   It’s   not   that   easy   anymore.   But   don’t  
worry  –  I  started  like  that  too.  On  my  first  year,  I  struggled  with  a  lot  of  problems  that  a  lot  of  
people  considered  easy.  But  that’s  exactly  what  I  did  –  I  struggled.  I  tried  different  methods.  I  
practiced.  I  solved  thousands  of  problems.  Two  years  later,  I  could  solve  those  problems  in  my  
sleep.  It  doesn’t  matter  how  good  you  are  right  now.  Believe  me,  if  you  practice  and  dedicate  
yourself  to  it,  you  will  be  able  to  solve  problems  that  you  never  thought  you  could.  You  really  
can.    
 
I   put   in   hundreds   of   hours   of   work   into   MATHCOUNTS   because   I   loved   it.   I   loved   the  
competition,  the  problems,  the  people  and  the  food.  I  loved  improving  and  showing  others  my  
slick  solutions.  But  if  you  don’t  like  it,  you  aren’t  going  to  enjoy  it  and  you  simply  won’t  improve  
as  much.  Honestly  –  if  you  are  doing  MATHCOUNTS  because  someone  else  is  making  you  do  it  –  
don’t.  
 
What  do  I  use  to  practice?  
Three  years  ago,  I  was  in  the  same  position  as  a  lot  of  you  are.  I  was  interested  in  
MATHCOUNTS,  but  I  had  no  idea  how  to  practice  or  what  to  practice  with.  This  guide  will  help  
you  get  started.  
 
Books:  
1) Competition   Math   for   Middle   School   –   by   Jason   Batterson   ($25   )   –   This   book  
teaches  you  all  of  the  basics  of  MATHCOUNTS  using  fast  paced,  easy  to  understand  
writing.    The  low  price  and  compact  size  is  a  nice  bonus  too.  
2) Art   of   Problem   Solving,   Volume   1:     the   Basics   –   by   Lehoczky   and   Rusczyk   ($42)   –  
The   default   Math   competition   book   for   decades,   this   textbook   is   well-­‐written,  
compact  and  challenging.  This  goes  a  little  more  in-­‐depth  than  CMfMS.    
3) Introduction   to   Counting   and   Probability   –   by   David   Patrick   ($42)   –   Usually,  
Mathletes  struggle  with  counting  and  probability  more  than  any  other  topic  because  
it  is  the  only  major  subject  not  taught  in  school.  This  book,  from  the  AoPS  series,  will  
make  you  an  expert,  but  it  will  take  some  work!  
I   highly   recommend   getting   at   least   one   or   two   of   these   books.   If   you   can’t   afford   it,   you   might  
want  to  ask  older  classmates  or  teachers  who  might  have  these  books.  Also  note  that  if  your  
whole   club   wants   to   buy   a   certain   book,   AoPS   gives   discounts   of   10%   or   20%   if   you   buy   5   or   10  
copies  of  it,  respectively.    Please  remember  that  most  of  these  books  will  appear  very  difficult  
at  the  beginning  –  don’t  worry  –  get  help!  They  will  seem  easy  in  no  time!  
 
Websites:  
1) Art   of   Problem   Solving   (AoPS)   –   aops.com   –  There  is  no  denying  that  AoPS  is  the  
best  math  competition  website.  Through  their  website,  you  can  purchase  the  books  
listed  above  or  take  online  classes.  Some  of  their  free  resources  include  databases  of  
old   contests,   a   very   active   forum,   a   series   of   videos,   For   the   Win!   (a   game),   and  
“Alcumus,”  a  collection  of  thousands  of  problems.  
2) MATHCOUNTS   –   mathcounts.org  –  Although  its  website  doesn’t  even  come  close  to  
AoPS  in  terms  of  the  number  of  problems  and  things  to  do,  the  official  website  does  
offer  this  year’s  handbook,  Mathcounts  Minis,  and  all  of  the  official  rules.    
3) Others:  Brilliant  –  brilliant.org  ;  Interactive  Handbook  –  
mathcounts.nextthought.com  ;  Khan  Academy  –  khanacademy.org  ;  AMC  -­‐  
http://www.maa.org/math-­‐competitions  ;  MathFights  –  mathfights.com  
Websites  are  an  easy,  free  and  fun  way  to  learn  math.  I  can’t  stress  how  useful  AoPS  is  if  you  
use  it  correctly.  Making  an  account  on  it  should  be  required  for  Mathletes!    
 
Problems:  
The   books   I   mentioned   and   the   websites   (especially   AoPS   Alcumus)   have   tons   of   problems,   but  
as  it  gets  closer  to  the  competition,  you  should  start  simulating  the  actual  contest  by  taking  old  
ones.    For  example,  before  the  AMC8,  you  could  take  5-­‐10  AMC8’s  to  track  your  progress  and  to  
get  used  to  the  format.  A  lot  of  people  complain  that  they  don’t  have  access  to  enough  practice  
tests.   In   99%   of   the   cases,   this   isn’t   true.   Although   you   can   buy   a   lot   of   tests   through   the  
MATHCOUNTS   or   AMC   websites,   there   are   also   many   free   ways   to   get   tests,   for   example,  
wading   through   Google   will   often   find   you   many   tests.   A   much   easier   way,   however,   is   by  
simply  asking  a  teacher  or  a  peer  if  they  can  email  you  practice  tests.  Don’t  be  shy!  
 
I  just  mentioned  a  lot  of  different  ways  to  practice.  You  could  probably  spend  every  single  free  
minute  you  have  on  math  competitions,  but  that’s  not  the  point.  If  you  can  balance  doing  math  
along  with  playing  a  sport/  instrument  or  doing  whatever  else  you  like,  you  will  have  even  more  
fun   and   you   will   be   more   efficient   doing   math   too.   Practicing   competition   math   for   30-­‐60  
minutes   a   day   is   perfectly   doable   and   you   will   be   surprised   by   how   far   that   will   take   you.   Of  
course,  if  your  goal  is  to  make  nationals  or  something  of  the  sort,  that  will  require  a  lot  more  
dedication  and  work  –  2  or  more  hours  a  day.  You  need  to  figure  out  what  your  goal  is  and  how  
much  you  are  willing  to  practice  yourself.  Just  remember  that  you  can  do  anything  with  practice,  
and  remember  to  have  fun!  Best  of  luck.