Barry is a very curious capybara. He and his best friend, Chico the Chick, love looking at the stars. One day, Barry began wondering how he could build a rocket to travel into space and see the stars up close. After a lot of studying, he actually figured out how to get there!
But there was one small problem… He forgot to plan how to get back to Earth. Now Barry and Chico are lost in space, and they need to use all of their algebra skills to find a way home. Can you help them return?
Note: There are no prerequisites for this circle.
Dylan, a 7 year-old boy, has developed a confounding new habit — every time he lays his hands on some food, he tries to break it into as many equal parts as possible. So, for example, he first breaks a bar of chocolate into two equal pieces. Next, he tries to see if he can break the two pieces into smaller equal pieces, and so on. Sometimes, it is easy to do this. At other times, it feels incredibly hard. He asks his friends for help, and together they try and discover how deep and wide this rabbit hole of tiny numbers goes!
Note - Circle Prerequisite: Does not have extensive experience with fractions
Barry, the Capybara, was rescued by our friends from the Magic School, and now he has decided to explore a very special and mysterious place called T Island. But as soon as Barry arrived, he lost his friend Chico the Chick. To find him, Barry will need to solve cryptography puzzles and some wild graph challenges. He will have to ask for help from the mermaids and even from the dragons as he begins his quest to find his lost friend.
Note: There are no prerequisites for this circle.
Imagine a room where every single wall is a mirror. If you shot a laser beam inside, could it bounce around forever? Get ready to:
1. PLAY (explore the paths!)
2. PREDICT (guess what happens next!)
3. PROVE (figure out why it works!)
We guarantee this Math Circle will be illuminating and give you plenty to reflect on!
Note - Circle Prerequisites:
(1) Experience with fraction addition
(2) No extensive background in number theory
This circle will investigate the behavior of lasers as they bounce off or get stuck in the walls of an enclosure. We will ask many questions such as: can we predict if the beam will end? How far will it travel? How precisely can we track the path of this laser? We will explore through pictures and numbers, strategy and discussion to hopefully find intriguing patterns.
Note - Circle Prerequisites:
(1) Comfort with multiplication and division
(2) Hasn't studied number theory extensively
Let's dive into dice! Specifically, we'll develop a theory of irregular dice, whether strangely shaped or labeled with irregular numbers, and look at how those dice can be combined. Join us as we roll through the depths of probability and combinatorics! Dice games will never look the same again.
Note: There are no prerequisites for this circle.
This circle will invite students to explore “what-if” versions of geometry — what if distance worked differently, or familiar shapes followed new rules? By gently altering these basics, we will uncover how entirely new mathematical worlds can emerge.
Note: There are no prerequisites for this circle.
In this circle, we'll explore a challenging probability question entering around positions of stars: what are the chances that a star's relationship with another is reciprocal? Along with its extensions in other dimensions, the line of questioning can lead to surprising depths in probability and statistical reasoning.
Note - Circle Prerequisites:
(1) Knowledge of using sum notation
(2) Has completed at least one algebra course
There is more to the square than meets the eye. We think that calculating its area is a relatively simple thing, but with some specific parameters, it becomes a challenge that can lead us to playing with different ways of looking at counting numbers, proofs, and maybe even the imaginary! What can we learn about this regular shape when we break free from the grid and give it the attention it deserves?
Note - Circle Prerequisites:
(1) Knowledge of square numbers
(2) Has not explored modular arithmetic in depth
In The Bear School, something unusual is happening: hallways twist and turn, doors connect to the wrong classrooms, and secret passages appear out of nowhere. In this circle, three friends — Claire, Yasmine and Pablo — decide to solve those mysteries. With graph theory as our guide, we’ll trace routes, solve puzzles, and discover how to move through this maze-like place. Each step will bring us closer to unlocking the secret of this magic school.
Note: There are no prerequisites for this circle.
Step into a world of number grids and unravel their hidden secrets. Join us as we explore the mysterious relationships between numbers that create harmony out of chaos. Using logic, creativity, and a bit of mathematical wizardry, we’ll discover how to organize numbers in surprising ways that have fascinated mathematicians for centuries.
Note - Circle Prerequisite: Does not have experience with magic squares beyond 3x3
We can identify properties of a cube by looking at it, making a net of its shape, or making cuts in it to see what we find. How could we determine the properties of a 4-dimensional cube? What about an n-dimensional one? In this circle, we will explore properties of cubes beyond our visual comprehension. What might we find?
Note: There are no prerequisites for this circle.
Platonic solids have much more in common than just being made up of all one shape, but how do we know what their relationships are? In this circle, we will explore these particular shapes in detail: their relationships with each other as well as how they connect to others. In doing so, we will discover why they make up a cohesive set and derive equations based on them.
Note - Circle Prerequisites:
(1) Should be familiar with volume and area equations for a variety of 3-D shapes
(2) Should have comfort manipulating algebraic equations
The great mathematician, Ramanujan, was fascinated by Magic Squares. There is so much more magic to be discovered! This circle will explore various magic shapes, possibly going beyond numbers. Give your child the chance to fall in love with a subject that's full of creativity, challenges, and, yes, a little bit of magic.
Note - Circle Prerequisites:
(1) Fluency with addition
(2) Has not extensively studied magic shapes, such as magic squares
In this circle, we'll make geometry pop out of the page, and explore the third dimension! What shapes can we make, and what are their characteristics? We'll follow the rabbit holes of mathematics to a variety of exciting potential destinations, from graph theory to the wonders of dimensions higher than 3.
Note - Circle Prerequisite: Has not studied graph theory extensively
This special one-session circle is a chance to experience the engaging and collaborative nature of math circles and discover whether it’s the right fit for your child.
Participants will be grouped according to age and math level to ensure a positive and meaningful experience.
Note: This circle is exclusively for those who have not yet participated in math circles run by The Global Math Circle.
The mysterious number Pi shows up all over mathematics. But where does it come from, and how could we calculate it from scratch? In this circle we’ll travel back in time and tackle the mystery the way ancient mathematicians did, using only geometry. We’ll build and analyze triangles inside a circle, explore the Pythagorean Theorem from the ground up (no prior knowledge needed!), and use these tools to get closer and closer to Pi. Along the way we'll be able to connect our work to real‑world questions like estimating the distance the Earth travels around the Sun.
Note - Circle Prerequisite: Comfort with square roots
