Students match wits in math at annual contest

COLUMBUS - “Mathletes” from the area put their brain power to work on Saturday.

They hoped they had what it took to get the correct answers to questions like this: Brass is an alloy created using 80 percent copper and 20 percent zinc. If Henri's brass trumpet contains 48 ounces of copper, how man ounces of zinc are in the trumpet?

It might be a challenge for some to come up with the right answer of 12 ounces, but for those taking part in MATHCOUNTS, this was just a taste of what they were in store for.

Students from 15 local and area schools took part in MATHCOUNTS, a nationwide math program for middle school students.

The event was held at Central Community College-Columbus. Students competed in team and individual event that covered areas like algebra, probability, statistics and geometry.

Justin Jakub, one of the co-coordinators of the event, said MATHCOUNTS gives students an opportunity have fun while using math skills.

“It give these kids a chance to practice math outside of the classroom and have fun with it. They get to meet with a bunch of engineers like us who use math everyday,” Jakub said.

Students have been practicing for the event for several weeks.

The team from Columbus Middle School, which is coached by Lindsay Bakko and Ruth Asche, had nine members at the event. The students have been staying after school for about an hour two days a week preparing for the competition.

“We work on different strategies and problems and different ways to solve problems,” Bakko said.

Asche said students are excited to be a part of the competition.

“I think they enjoy it because it's not graded. They do math because they enjoy it,” Asche said.

CMS has several students moving on to the state competition. Jakub said the top two teams and the top four individuals at the competition get to move on to state. From there, students can qualify for nationals.

Scotus Central Catholic had students in the event for the first time in a few years.

Tom Salyard, who is a teacher at Scotus, started a team this year hoping to give students an opportunity to take part in something they enjoy. He said MATHCOUNTS not only gives students a chance to use their math skills, but also get experience working with others.

“I hope they had fun doing it. I'm a real believer in doing things as a team,” Salyard said.

MATHCOUNTS began nationally in 1983, and a competition has been held in Columbus since that time.

Other teams at the competition included Boone Central Middle School, Cross County School, Lakeview Community Schools, Dodge Public Schools, Pope John XXIII Catholic High School of Elgin, Madison Public Schools, Norfolk Junior High School, North Bend Central Public Schools, Saint Mary's Junior/Senior High School, St. Edward Public School, South Sioux City Middle School, West Point Public Schools and Guardian Angels School.

Sponsors of the event were Hy-Vee, SuperSaver, McDonalds, Wal-Mart, Nebraska Public Power District, RVW Inc., Central Community College, Walgreens, Sweet Harvest Popcorn and the Northeastern Nebraska Chapter of the National Society of Professional Engineers.