Competition math for middle school: must-knows and beyond

This book includes dozens of author-created math competition problems with author-prepared solutions (never published before). The book also includes theory and advanced topics. The main goal of the book is to teach problem solving strategies, how to solve nonstandard problems and how to score better on middle school math competitions. It is intended as a teacher’s manual of mathematics, as a manual for math competition coaches, a self-study handbook for middle-school students and mathematical competitors. About the authors: Hayk Sedrakyan is an IMO medal winner, professional mathematical Olympiad coach in the greater Boston area, Massachusetts, USA. He has been the dean (and one of the main developers) of one of the biggest math competition preparation programs in the USA. He has been a Professor of mathematics in Paris and has a PhD in mathematics (optimal control and game theory) from the UPMC – Sorbonne University, Paris, France. Hayk is a Doctor of mathematical sciences in the USA, France, Armenia and holds three master’s degrees in mathematics from institutions in Germany, Austria, Armenia and has spent a small part of his PhD studies in Italy. Hayk Sedrakyan has worked as a scientific researcher for the European Commission (sadco project), has been one of the Team Leaders at Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament (HMMT) and was an invited speaker at Imperial College London. He took part in the International Mathematical Olympiads (IMO) in United Kingdom, Japan and Greece. Hayk has been elected as the President of the general assembly and a member of the management board of the Cite Internationale Universitaire de Paris (10,000 students, 162 different nationalities) and the same year they were nominated for the Nobel Prize. Hayk Sedrakyan is the son and was one of the students of Nairi Sedrakyan. Nairi Sedrakyan is involved in national and international Mathematics Olympiads having been the President of Armenian Mathematics Olympiads and a member of the IMO problem selection committee. Nairi Sedrakyan was the winner of Erdos Award 2022 (one of the highest international awards in mathematics) for contributing to the development of mathematics worldwide, in average 1 person per year (globally) wins this award. He is one of 3 people from entire ex-USSR territory ever to win Erdos Award, the other 2 are: Grigori Perelman’s professor (the only person in the world who coached 2 Fields Medal winners) and Nikolay Konstantinov (founder of Tournament of the Towns). Nairi Sedrakyan is the author of one of the most difficult problems ever proposed in the history of the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), 5th problem of the 37th IMO. This problem is considered to be one of the hardest problems ever in the IMO because none of the members of the strongest teams (national Olympic teams of China, USA, Russia) succeeded to solve it correctly and because national Olympic team of China (the strongest team in the IMO) obtained a cumulative result equal to 0 points and was ranked 6th in the final ranking of the countries instead of the usual 1st or 2nd place. The British 2014 film X+Y, released in the USA as A Brilliant Young Mind, inspired by the film Beautiful Young Minds (focuses on an English mathematical genius chosen to represent the United Kingdom at the IMO) also states that this problem is the hardest problem ever proposed in the history of the IMO (minutes 9:40-10:30). His students have received 20 medals in International Mathematical Olympiad, including Gold and Silver medals. Nairi Sedrakyan received a Gold Medal for contributions to World’s Mathematical Olympiads and Scientific Activities.