Math Bowl
The Math Bowl team competition is an exciting double elimination tournament
in the style of the Scholars Bowl. In each match of the competition,
two three-member teams compete against one another by using a buzzer system
to answer 10 questions. A point is awarded to a team each time it
answers a question correctly in the time allotted after its buzzer sounds.
Each team must lose 2 matches before it is eliminated from the tournament.
Teams will be classified according to the size of their high school (large
or small). Awards will be given to two divisions of teams, based on school
size, but schools will compete against one another regardless of division.
Calculators may not be used during the Math Bowl. Quick
thinking is the essence of the competition. This competition will
take place between the FERMAT I and FERMAT II competitions and after
FERMAT II, while the grading of each exam takes place. See
Schedule of Events for details.
Enrollment
The size of the contest will be limited to 64 Math Bowl teams. Each
high school may enter one three-member math bowl team into the tournament.
The tournament bracket is filled based on the date each team was registered,
until a full complement of 64 teams has been reached.
If 64 math bowl
teams have not registered and paid their fees by October 10th 2012,
each high school will be permitted to enter a second team in the tournament.
At the time of registration, each high school should indicate the number of teams
(1 or 2) it would like to enter. Second teams will not be officially registered
to participate until after the deadline. Second teams will also be entered into the
bracket based on the original date of registration. Schools will be notified of the
number of Math Bowl teams which may participate in the tournament after the deadline.
Match Procedures
Each match must begin on time. If a team is more than 3 minutes
late for the match, then the team forfeits the match. Many times
several matches will be played in sequence in the same room. If
a team will play its next match in the same room, it is important that
THE TEAM STAYS IN THE ROOM. This will help facilitate a
smoothly run contest.
Each question will be read orally, and there will be no written display
of the question. Writing materials will be supplied so that students can
write down important details about a question as it is read. Here are
some
Math Bowl example problems.
Each question has a 30 second time limit beginning when the judge has
finished reading the question. If a team buzzes while the judge is reading
a question, the judge will stop reading, the timer will begin, and the
(unfinished) question must be answered immediately. Any team member
may request at any time that a question be repeated, but this does not
delay the clock or prevent either team from buzzing.
As soon as the judge hears the buzzer, the judge will call on the team
that buzzed to answer. Any member of the buzzing team may answer,
but the answer must be given within 3 seconds of the buzz. The timer will
say "time" at the end of 3 seconds. Only the first answer will be accepted.
Answers are subject to strict
Rules for Math Bowl Answers.
If the answer is correct, the timer scores a point to the team and the next question
begins. If the buzzing team fails to answer the question correctly or does
not answer within 3 seconds, the opposing team has an opportunity to answer the
question (buzzing is not necessary), provided the 30 second time period has not
expired. Again, the first answer given is the one that is accepted.
The ruling of the judge is final!
The timer will announce when 5 seconds remain in the 30 second period
by saying "25", meaning 25 seconds have elasped. At 30 seconds the timer
will say "end."
The higher scoring team is declared the winner and proceeds to the next
round. If necessary, tie-breaker questions will be used. The losing
team continues in the consolation bracket if this is its first loss, or
is eliminated from the contest if this is its second loss. Eventually
there will be two remaining teams, one with no losses and one with one
loss. These teams will compete in one or two championship rounds on a
stage in front of the whole gathering. To be declared champion, the team
with no losses must win once, but the team with one loss must win twice.
Awards
Immediately following the championship round of the Math Bowl (about 4:00
p.m.), trophies and individual medals will be awarded to the top two teams
in each of two divisions (based on school size) of the Math Bowl.
Resources:
updated: Jul 30th 2010
