Transcript Math Zoom Summer Program - wmtc

Build a Solid Math
Foundation to Succeed in
Global Competition
Dr. Kevin Wang
Math Zoom Academy
http://www.mathzoom.org
打好数学基础
国际竞争必胜
王锋博士
Math Zoom Academy
http://www.mathzoom.org
The World is getting smaller.
The competition is more
intense.
Respond to the
Global Competition
• Technology is reforming the world.
• Get yourself prepared for the
global competition.
• Math is Your Passport;
• Global Knowledge is Your Visa.
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What Can You Do with Math?
• My own story
• What are my college friends doing?
• A broader career prospective
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My Own Story
20 years ago my IMO and other math
contest experience helped me earn
scholarships that supported me getting
my Ph.D. degree in mathematics.
 Became math faculty at Universities.
 Worked in global technology companies.
 Started Math Zoom Academy, became
math coach and educator.
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My Own Story
20 years later, I am back to Beijing, here
with my bright students, with the USA
math teams for the World Math Team
Championship.
 Every step in my journey, my math
contest experiences played significant
role. That’s why I wanted to dedicate
myself to the world of math education.

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What My College Friends Are Doing
• Quantitative analysts, fund managers
and investment bankers on Wall Street
• Mathematicians
• Technology professionals
• Engineers and engineering executives
• Successful business owners
• College professors and administrators
• Math teachers and coaches
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There is One Thing in Common
• The math training developed the sharp
minds that helped us handle all the
career challenges at ease
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A Broader Career Prospective
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Actuaries
Imagineers
Cryptographists
New careers to be created with the
technology advancement
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Math is Your Passport
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Math is not only a computing tool
Math helps develop critical thinking skills
Math prepares you for innovation
Math sharpens your mind
Math helps develop logical thinking skills,
and helps see the world with better clarity
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Math is Your Passport
• Critical thinking and problem solving skills
differentiate the economic leaders from
the laggards.
--PISA (Program for Student Assessment conducted by Organization for
Economic Development and Cooperation)
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Global Knowledge is Your Visa
• Today we gather with friends from all
over the world, all share the same passion
for math
• Go see the world
• Learn a different culture
• Engage in culture exchange activities
• Make friends with people from
different cultures
•
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Math and Culture
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Shopping for Holiday Feast
(adapted from a traditional Chinese problem)
Suppose a turkey
costs $18, a pumpkin is
$3, and four eggs for
$1. You bought turkeys,
pumpkins, and eggs,
total 99 items, and
spent $100. How many
items of each type did
you buy?
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Shopping for Holiday Feast
Solution
Solve the diophantine equation:
x + y + z = 99
18x + 3y + z/4 = 100
Standard solution to this equation is long and
mechanical.
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Shopping for Holiday Feast
Solution
Solve the diophantine equation:
x + y + z = 99
18x + 3y + z/4 = 100
Fastest solution: smart trial and error.
x = 3 ($54), y = 8 ($24), z = 88 ($22)
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Halloween and Christmas
How many of you know about Halloween?
- A western holiday observed on Oct 31.
- Trick or treat
- Wearing costumes
- Scary decorations
- Horror movies
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Halloween and Christmas
How many of you know about Christmas?
- A western holiday observed on Dec 25.
- Family reunion
- Santa Claus
- Presents
- Christmas trees & lights
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Tell me why Halloween = Christmas ?
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Solution

Place values and number bases
Dec = Decimal, base 10
 Oct = Octal, base 8
31 (base 8) = 3 x 8 + 1 = 25 (base 10)
therefore

Oct 31 = Dec 25
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You are all invited
to apply for the
Math Zoom Summer Program
in California and New Jersey
to hone your math skills,
and make friends from
all over the world.
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THANK YOU!
Contact: Kevin Wang
[email protected]
(949)679-8989
www.mathzoom.org
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