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.
In this circle, we'll explore what happens when a shape, such as a watermelon, is sliced again and again. As we confront a series of challenges, we'll investigate how the number of pieces grows, look for patterns, make predictions, and test our ideas. As they experiment and compare different strategies, participants will discover that a simple question about cutting fruit can lead to surprising and beautiful mathematical discoveries.
Note: There are no prerequisites for this circle.
In this circle, we will attempt some crazy things! What happens when you have to share your snacks equally among all your friends, but it doesn't match perfectly? 4 cookies for 7 friends?! Or, what if you need to break a chocolate bar up into eensy weensy pieces — how many pieces can you even break a bar of chocolate into? To explore these and other missions, we will need to max out our rationality and explore... Numbers Between Numbers!
Note - Circle Prerequisite: Comfortable with addition
Diffy the Magnificent has a trick. Diffy replaces cards on the table in a way that sometimes (or maybe always) the cards end up disappearing. Why does this happen? What is the secret behind Diffy's magic disappearing card trick? Can we trap Diffy in a loop forever and ever and save the world from disappear cards?
Note - Circle Prerequisite: Comfortable with subtraction
In this circle we'll play games which might look simple, but contain hidden strategies. We'll take stones, avoid dangerous numbers, move across boards, and more. We might even change the rules to see what happens! Together, we’ll play with the intention to notice patterns, making predictions, testing strategies, and inventing new versions of our own.
Note - Circle Prerequisites:
(1) Simple addition and subtraction
(2) 2's times table up to 5
We will explore a game with subtracting squares that build a beautiful geometric spiral of smaller squares. What mathematical forces collapse (almost) every game into zero?
Note - Circle Prerequisite: Can do subtraction
In this circle, we will start with a simple question about triangles and dive from there into a beautiful world of geometry, proofs, and hidden structure. Circles and squares have centers, sure! But what about triangles?
Note - Circle Prerequisite: Comfortable with angles, distances, and geometry basics
Starting with a simple tile, we will create and count different patterns and then classify them according to their symmetries. Can we explain why certain combinations of symmetries are possible and why others are not?
Note - Circle Prerequisite: None. Familiarity with counting principles will help.
We'll start with a very simple 2 player game and look for the optimal strategy, which we will then continuously make harder and learn which patterns arise looking for winning strategies! Expect interesting and surprising number patterns as we work our way up.
Note - Circle Prerequisites:
(1) Can divide numbers
(2) Understands what remainders are
*Please include note with registration if applicant has extensive experience with mathematical games.
This fast-paced group will start with a simple question about triangles and dive from there into a beautiful world of geometry, proofs, and hidden structure. Circles and squares have centers, sure! But what about triangles?
Note - Circle Prerequisite: Comfortable with angles, distances, and geometry basics
Beginning from one corner of a box, a ball embarks on a journey of reflections and surprises. In this circle, we'll explore how geometry can predict its destination, and the many mathematical structures and insights that can flow from there.
Note: There are no prerequisites for this circle.
Deep within a network of ancient caves lie piles and piles of mythical stones. In order to claim them, we just need to move all of the stones out of the cave. However, we must follow very specific rules to do so, or the mystic force of the cave will claim them. One wrong move and we lose all of the stones!
Come join us in this circle as we play and analyze games involving these mythical stones.
Note - Circle Prerequisite: Does not have extensive experience with game theory
We have found a treasure chest filled with gold coins, but the chest seems to be playing games with us when we try to take the gold. In this circle we'll examine how strategies can be created and compared, starting with a simple combinatorial game and moving on to more elaborate versions of the game. We will change the rules about what moves are allowed. Our exploration of the hows and whys of gaming will involve explaining our thinking and persuading each other that our thinking is correct.
Note - Circle Prerequisite: Does not have extensive experience with game theory
In this circle, we'll take our loot from the candy store and arrange it in different formations, and try to count how much we have. What if we get into some weird and crazy shapes? Could we stack candies on top of each other?! We'll see what happens — and we'll see what connections and formulas might come out of our candy-stacking adventures...
Note - Circle Prerequisites:
(1) Understands multiplication
(2) Can't prove a formula for triangle numbers
This circle is now open for waitlist. If we receive enough interest, we may be able to open a second section.
Let's peek into a mad scientist's lab, where she has — yes, that's right — machines that can transform animals into other animals! Each machine can do one specific transformation, and each room has a different set of machines. By playing with these machines and transforming some very-confused animals, we'll find rich and deep structure, spanning modular arithmetic, abstract algebra, and more. (All animals will be imaginary!)
Note - Circle Prerequisites: Comfortable with arithmetic, including fractions
*This circle may be co-led by a GMC Leader-in-Training, supported by an experienced GMC leader.
This circle is now open for waitlist. If we receive enough interest, we may be able to open a second section.
We will explore the difference between “I don’t see how to solve this puzzle,” and “no one can solve this puzzle — here’s why.” Can we actually prove that a puzzle is impossible to solve, that no matter how clever someone is or what approach they take, they won't find a solution? Is it possible to prove the impossible?
Note - Circle Prerequisites:
(1) Can express a logical argument
(2) Not an expert at invariants
In this circle we'll play games which might look simple, but contain hidden strategies. We'll take stones, avoid dangerous numbers, move across boards, and more. We might even change the rules to see what happens! Together, we’ll play with the intention to notice patterns, making predictions, testing strategies, and inventing new versions of our own.
Note - Circle Prerequisite: Basic addition and subtraction
