For Immediate Release
January 26, 2005
Contact: Terri Pyer
312.582.6072
tpyer@latinschool.org

Area Math Whizzes to Compete at The Latin School

Can you answer the following math conundrum?: "Mary is twice as old as Jane was at the time when Mary was as old as Jane is now. The sum of the present ages of Mary and Jane is 28 years. How old is Jane now?"

How about this one?: "A bag of pennies, dimes, and half-dollars—100 coins in all—is worth $5. What is the probability that if you pull two coins from the bag at the same time, both will be pennies?"

These are just two examples of the math problems that more than 300 fifth through eighth grade math whizzes from 15 Chicago-area and Wisconsin schools will tackle during The Latin School of Chicago’s annual invitational math contest, this year called "Multiples Arrive in 2005." This half-day event on Saturday, January 29, 2005 begins at 8:30 a.m. at The Latin School, 59 W. North Blvd.

This is the sixth year that Latin has hosted this math competition, which began as The Prairie School Math Meet some 30 years ago in Racine, Wisconsin. Latin’s previous contests have sported names like "The M2K Math Event" in 2000, "2001: A Math Odyssey," "2002--A Mathematics Palindrome," "Prime Time" in 2003, and "2004--Factors Galore."

In addition to Latin, students from the following schools will sharpen their math skills to compete this year: Chicago's Beaubien Elementary School and Lenart Regional Gifted Center; the Avery Coonley School and Lakeview Junior High School in Downers Grove; Da Vinci Academy, Elgin; Hinsdale Middle School; Highland Middle School, Libertyville; Butler Junior High School, Oak Brook; Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School, Oak Park; Quest Academy, Palatine; Fairview South Elementary School, Skokie; Washburne Middle School, Winnetka; The Prairie School, Racine, WI; and University School of Milwaukee.

For additional information on this event, call Math Department Chair Warren Hawley, (312) 582-6412.