The 2009 Furman University Wylie Mathematics Tournament will be held on Saturday March 21st. The tournament is for high school students from throughout the Southeast. The one-day event is designed to encourage the study of mathematics and to provide a challenging and enjoyable competition for top mathematics students. The tournament consists of a written test, taken in the morning, and an afternoon ciphering match. Following the afternoon session, awards are presented to the winning teams and the top individual finishers. The Furman University Wylie Mathematics Tournament is sanctioned by the National Federation of State High School Associations for the states of South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and Florida.
For the team competition, schools are separated into two divisions based on the number of students and mathematics teachers at each school. Each school may enter as many students as it wishes in the individual contest, but only the top four scores will be counted toward the team's total score. To compete as a team, students must be accompanied by a faculty sponsor. The two-hour senior examination, given in the morning, consists of multiple-choice questions from topics in algebra, geometry, advanced algebra, trigonometry, precalculus, analytic geometry, probability and logic. Tie-breaker questions are included on the exam but are scored only if there are ties among the top finishers. In the afternoon, up to three members of each team participate in a ciphering match against other schools in their division. Students compete against both the clock and each other as they try to solve problems displayed on a screen. All students who answer correctly within the prescribed time period earn points, and those who solve the problem first receive extra points. After the ciphering competition, awards are presented to the six students who score highest on the written exam and to the top four teams in both the written and the ciphering contest.
In addition to the senior exam, which is open to all students, there is a separate written exam for freshmen and sophomores. Students who are advanced in their classwork are encouraged to take the senior exam. The junior exam is given at the same time as the senior exam and consists of multiple-choice questions from topics in algebra and geometry. Although results on the junior exam do not count toward the team score, awards are presented to the top three individual scorers.
The Furman University Wylie Mathematics Tournament is generously supported through an endowment established by Dr. and Mrs. C. Ray Wylie, both former teachers of mathematics. Mrs. Wylie taught at Winthrop College and at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Wylie held the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professorship at Furman and was head of the Mathematics Department before retiring in 1978. He was the author of nine textbooks and many scholarly articles. Longtime supporters of Furman, the Wylies also endowed the Wylie Scholarships in Mathematics. These prestigious awards go to students with outstanding mathematical ability and serious interest in pursuing the study of mathematics.
For further information about the tournament, please contact Dr. Mark R. Woodard: Furman University Mathematics Department 3300 Poinsett Highway Greenville, South Carolina 29613-1148 Phone: (864) 294-3626 E-mail: mark.woodard@furman.edu