A group of 60 students from 20 schools in Delaware and Maryland were given 45 minutes to solve five math problems. Kurt Ludwick was co-coordinator of the 26th annual Eastern Shore High School Mathematics Competition. Sponsored by Delmarva Power and Salisbury University’s Department of Mathematics & Computer Science, the competition is designed to test math and problem-solving skills of students in grades nine through 12. The day’s activities included a team-testing portion followed by an individual test with 20 multiple choice questions.
Students tackled mathematical proofs, geometric constructions and experimental versus theoretical probability problems with teammates. Students are selected for a team based on their Advanced Placement exam scores or grades in a calculus course. Sometimes younger students who have taken a higher level math course also will claim a spot on the team.
The Salisbury School and Gunston Day School in Centreville once again finished in first and second place in the team competition. This year, James M. Bennett High came in third. In the individual student competition, Ezgi Ergun of Salisbury School took first-place honors and Jason Donoway of Delmar High School was runner-up. Chong Zhou of Bennett High claimed third place. The winners received U.S. Savings Bonds and mathematics-related books. All students were given certificates of participation and commemorative T-shirts.