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Writing Olympiad Math Solution Manuals for BMO1 Candidates' Contest Preparation

Fri Sep 20 2024With more skills and knowledge of Olympic math this year, I will revisit a carefully curated selection of past BMO1 combinatorial problems and create a solution manual in which I outline my solutions in great detail. The main aim is to provide a comprehensive guide for future BMO1 candidates, especially those who are new to the competition, to help them understand the thought processes and techniques required to tackle such problems. This will not only deepen my understanding of combinatorics but also enhance my ability to communicate mathematical ideas effectively.

Focus and Aim

With more skills and knowledge of Olympic math this year, I will revisit a carefully curated selection of past BMO1 combinatorial problems and create a solution manual in which I outline my solutions in great detail. The main aim is to provide a comprehensive guide for future BMO1 candidates, especially those who are new to the competition, to help them understand the thought processes and techniques required to tackle such problems. This will not only deepen my understanding of combinatorics but also enhance my ability to communicate mathematical ideas effectively.

Learning Outcomes

Addressed Learning Outcomes:

  1. Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience.
  2. Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively.
  3. Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance.
  4. Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions.

CAS Hours

CAS Stages

Investigation & Preparation

Go through the bmolot.pdf file on the official website to select a subset of combinatorial problems. The selection must be performed with great care in order to present the problems whose solutions deliver meaningful insight to the reader and touch on common techniques and themes used in the contest as well as recurring in the branch of discrete mathematics.

Action

Write up solutions with carefully phrased explanations, using LaTeX. A fact check at the end must be performed at the end to ensure that the solutions indeed match with the correct answers. To protect the production of the intellectual property, I will not publish it and share with a subset of candidates interested in participating in the competition.

Evidence

cover demo1 demo2

Reflection

Working on this solution manual for BMO1 combinatorics has been a rewarding journey of both personal growth and contribution to others. The process of selecting and solving these problems pushed me to plan carefully and think critically, not only about the solutions but how best to explain them. I sought feedback from peers along the way, which gave me fresh perspectives and strengthened the clarity of my work. Through this, I became more aware of the responsibility that comes with sharing knowledge—choosing to share the manual with a select group to respect the integrity of the competition and ensure it truly benefits those who engage with it. This project has been as much about refining my own understanding as it has been about helping others navigate the challenges of mathematical thinking.

This was also a decision to tackle a gap in the mathematical education industry I have observed and suffered from for a few years - the lack of comprehensive solution manuals for certain olympiad problems makes preparation very hard and often leads to wasteful effort. In addressing this gap, I realized the importance of accessible educational resources and how they can bridge divides, enabling students from different regions to compete in the same contest. This effort, though small, contributes to a broader movement towards global educational equity and collaboration.