Spring 2021, Central Florida Math Circle
The Central Florida Math Circle is an effort of the Department of Mathematics at the University of Central Florida to offer the middle school students of the Central Florida region an opportunity to have fun with mathematics. This year, we will offer virtual math circle sessions. Therefore, middle school students in any other area can register to participate.
The Math Circle is not directed towards a particular curriculum; it is not a class, a lecture or a tutorial. It is a directed experience in the encouragement of student discovery of mathematics. We are happy to be part of a national effort “The National Association of Math Circles” to encourage and develop mathematical insight in students.
Registration
Registration is closed. Thank you for your interest in our math circle.
Online Participant & Parent Code of Conduct Form
Online Participation Agreement and Waiver Form
The registered participants will be contacted in January.
Our Sessions
This year, all sessions are delivered through Zoom so that students can join at home. Password-protected Zoom links will be sent to the registered participants.
Here is the instruction about how to join the Zoom session.
We offer the sessions for two groups: Grade 7&8 and the Advanced Group. Each group is lead by our graduate students who introduce intriguing topics and lead the problem-solving related discussion.
Here is the schedule:
Grade 7 & 8:
There will be 6 sessions:
Every Saturday from January 30 to March 6 (that is, January 30, February 6, 13, 20, and 27, and March 6) from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Students will be admitted from 1:40 p.m. to the Zoom session. The main session will end at 3:00 p.m. Between 3:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., students can remain to ask questions and discuss with others.
Advanced Group:
There will be 6 sessions:
Every Friday from January 29 to March 5 (that is, January 29, February 5, 12, 19, and 26, and March 5) from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Students will be admitted from 6:40 p.m. to the Zoom session. The main session will end at 8:00 p.m. Between 8:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., students can remain to ask questions and discuss with others.
- One of the grade 7 & 8 sessions might have a special faculty guest presenter for both Grade 7 & 8 and the Advanced Group. Students will be informed of the date once that is decided.
What should students bring?
Students will come with a desire to see mathematics in a different way. Students should have internet access and a computer with a webcam so that they can participate at home. Students will need paper and a pencil/pen.
Faculty Team
Advanced Group Video Clips: Led by Mr. Connor Pitchford and Mr. Alexander Eubanks
Assisted by Ms. Maria Murphy
(PowerPoint: Math Circle Day 1 Blank Mr. Connor Pitchford, Mr Connor Pitchford Jan 29, 2021 with Discussion )
- February 5 Writing perfect squares as the sum of consecutive odd integers (continued), Locker Problem led by Mr. Connor Pitchford
(PowerPoint: Mr. Connor Pitchford, Feb 5, 2021, with class discussion)
- February 12 Number of divisors and perfect square divisors led by Mr. Connor Pitchford
(PowerPoint: Mr. Connor Pitchford, Feb 12, 2021, with class discussion )
- February 19 Find all positive integers n for which 3n-4, 4n-5, and 5n-3 are all prime numbers, led by Mr. Alexander Eubanks (After class discussion: What do mathematicians do? )
- February 26 Constructing 20 consecutive composite numbers, led by Mr. Alexander Eubanks
- March 5 3^n as the sum of consecutive integers and 2^n as the sum of consecutive odd integers, led by Mr. Alexander Eubanks
( PowerPoint: Mr. Alexander Eubanks, March 5, with class discussion )
Grade 7 & 8 Group Video Clips: Led by Ms. Maria Murphy
Assisted by Mr. Connor Pitchford and Mr. Alexander Eubanks
- January 30 Palindromic Number
- February 6 Palindromic Number (Palindromic Numbers Powerpoint) Sorry I forgot to record…
- February 13 Triangular Numbers, Square Numbers, Locker Problems, and Prime Factorizations
- February 20 Fermat’s factorization method and multiplicity
- February 27 Cryptography: Caesar Cipher, Keyword Cipher
- March 6 Cryptography: Letter to Number Cipher, Wordshift Cipher, and Pigpen Cipher