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K-State Today

April 15, 2013

Math competition adds up to victory for four students

Submitted by Communications and Marketing

Four Kansas State University students are being recognized for high placements in the 15th annual Kansas State University S. Thomas Parker Mathematics Competition.

The competition, April 6 in Cardwell Hall, encourages students to strengthen their mathematical skills, as well as to promote mathematics education among Kansas State University students. The competition committee consists of mathematics department faculty Todd Cochrane, Charles Moore, Andrew Ostergaard and Craig Spencer.

Funded by the S. Thomas Parker endowment and the Math Club of Kansas State University, the competition is open to all full-time students who are in their first two years at the university. Participants are given three hours to solve five problems in mathematics. The problems range from high school-level mathematics through the first two years of collegiate mathematics.

This year's competition has two first-place winners, who each received $250, and two third-place winners, who each received $100.

Students receiving honors in this year's S. Thomas Parker Mathematics Competition include:

Melissa Coats, sophomore in computer engineering, Allen, third-place tie; and Thomas Marietta, sophomore in mechanical engineering, Salina, third-place tie.

From out of state: Yang Chen, junior in computer science, Los Angeles, Calif., first-place tie.

From out of country: Yichao Zhang, sophomore in chemical engineering, Qingdao, China, first-place tie.

The awards will be presented at the annual Friends of Mathematics Banquet on April 16. In addition to the cash awards, each Parker Competition winner will also receive a personal certificate and a framed certificate to be posted in a student organization of his or her choice, honoring its member's achievement.

For more information on the competition, including past winners, old exams and their solutions, go to the department of mathematics website, or call 785-532-6750.