How to prepare for ARML
Preparing for ARML
The best way to prepare is to make yourself better at math. The best way to get better at math is to like it and do it frequently. Math tournaments help. Math projects help. Reading about math helps.
Here are specific resources that will help you take tournaments at a high level.
Tutorials and Books
Secrets of Ga ARML – this is a set of tutorials, mostly written by previous members of Georgia ARML, teaching advanced mathematical topics. Some of this is in xeroxed form and frequently distributed to coaches at tournaments. Some is on a website. Contact us for details.
Art of Problem Solving -- this organization at www.artofproblemsolving.com is dedicated to making you good at mathematics. Buy the books The Art of Problem Solving. These books are so important in the US as to almost represent a second, more advanced mathematics curriculum
High level tests
The AIME – Probably the single best thing you can do is to work old AIME examinations. They represent the correct level of difficulty for the ARML team. These can be ordered from www.amc.org.
The AIME – Probably the single best thing you can do is to work old AIME examinations. They represent the correct level of difficulty for the ARML team. These can be ordered from www.amc.org.
Tests taken in school during the year
Mandelbrot test www.mandelbrot.org
We recommend these highly. The Mandelbrot test is of appropriate difficulty for ARML preparation and includes a proof. It has two parts: a 40 minute 8 question test, taken by as many students as the school wishes, and a 1 hour proof, done by a special team of four chosen by the coach.
The ARML Power question is an hour long proof type question done by as many students as the teacher wishes at the same time. It consists of many parts of varying difficulty, most requiring some proof. Very good for your whole math team.
These are just nice math pictures.
Upper left: the fractal created from the reflection of light from 3 reflective spheres.
Bottom left: the snowflake fractal.
Right: The “Tail of the Seahorse” found inside the Mandelbroit set.
