Everything Counts

By Diane Mouskourie, The Daily News, Jacksonville, N.C.

Jan. 28–If x + y = -3 and x “” y = 5, then what is the value of -xy?

Students competing in the annual Math Counts competition at Clyde Erwin Elementary School had one minute to solve more than 40 complex mathematical equations similar to that one. The annual practice brings the best and brightest math students together for some friendly ciphering and gives them a chance to see how well their skills compare to their peers, said Deanna Pecina, curriculum coordinator for Onslow County Schools.

It also helps them prepare for the real deal when the southeast district competition begins in March.

“It’s really interesting to see how well the kids do and to provide them the experience,” Pecina said.

Each of Onslow County’s eight middle schools had a team as did Brewster Middle School, from Camp Lejeune and Carteret County’s Broad Creek Middle School. The 60 sixth, seventh and eighth-graders represented their schools as team members or alternate team members and also competed as individuals.

All will participate in the districts in March. Winners from that round will move to state competition. Winners there go to nationals.

Members of the audience were impressed with the mathematical challenges they witnessed — students weren’t allowed to use calculators except during their individual and some team portions of the competition.

“Having been a math teacher I really enjoy the competition,” school board member Pam Thomas said. “It gives the students a chance to show off their skills, which can be pretty intense.”

Betty and Bill Cruikshank attended to support their grandson, Ben Herbold, a sixth-grader at Northwoods Park Middle School.

“I call him my math whiz,” she said. “He wanted us here so we try to be big supporters of both our grandchildren.”

As for the competition, Betty Cruikshank said it was like trying to decipher Greek.

“I thought it was steep competition,” she said. “I look at this room filled with kids and think how young and how smart they all are.

“It fascinates me.”

Ben, who ended up winning the first place trophy for individuals, was pleased that his father and grandparents could be there, he said.

“It made me feel better that they were here,” he said.

This was his, as well as most of his Northwoods Park teammates’, first time competing in Math Counts.

“It seemed pretty easy to me, but they tell us the next one will be harder,” Ben said. “Math is the easiest subject for me. Everything else is more difficult.”

Maria Johnson, principal at Northwoods Park Middle School said she was proud of all of her students’ achievements. The school won four trophies with the majority of the team made up of sixth graders.

“This is the most we’ve ever taken home at once,” she said.

Math Counts is a national program designed to stimulate seventh and eighth grade students’ interest and achievement in math. Teachers and volunteers start coaching students at the beginning of the school year.

And for the record, -xy = 4.

Contact staff writer Diane Mouskourie at dmouskourie@freedomenc.com or 353-1171, Ext. 235.

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