Welcome to the TAMU Math Circle!

The Texas A&M Math Circle is an outreach activity that brings 5th - 12th grade students into direct contact with mathematical professionals in an informal setting to work on fun and interesting topics in mathematics. The goal is to help students become passionate about math.  Our instructors range from professors and graduate students at Texas A&M to experts from industry, all of whom are eager to share with students their passion for mathematics and its applications.

This year's meetings:

For the Spring 2024 semester, we will have Saturday meetings on 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 2/17, 3/2, 3/23, 4/6, 4/20, 4/27,  and 5/4.

February 24 is the Mathematics & Statistics Fair. March 9 and 16 are both adjacent to Texas A&M's Spring Break. March 30 is Easter weekend. April 13 is the Physics Festival. We will not be having Math Circle on any of these days. For the Math & Stat Fair, we encourage you to attend with your students and to sign up at the link provided. We also encourage you to bring your students to the Physics Festival - there is no sign-up required for the Festival.

There are two types of sessions being offered:

1:00 - 3:00 Discovery Activity

3:00 - 4:00 Problem Solving

Each is offered at three levels:

Beginner (for those on Pre-Algebra and below)

Intermediate (for those on Algebra 1 and Geometry)

Advanced (for those on Algebra 2 and above)

All 6 groups are meeting in person with the exception of the Advanced Problem Solving group, which will be meeting in a hybrid form, both in-person and on-line via Zoom. For information on attending the Advanced Problem Solving group via Zoom, please contact Kun Wang <kwang@tamu.edu>.

The in-person events will take place on the first floor of the Blocker building. Drop-off and pick-up will be inside of Room 128.

Program for This Week (Saturday, April 27):

April 27, 2023

Discovery Learning: Beginner Group (in Pre-Algebra and below)

Speaker: Vishwam Khapre, Texas A&M University

Title: TBA (but it will be good :) )

Abstract: TBA

Discovery Learning: Intermediate Group (in Algebra I or above)

Speaker: Dr. Kun Wang, Texas A&M University

Title: Coin Puzzle Problem

Abstract: Imagine we have an equal-arm balance scale, but it lacks balance weights. In this challenge, we start with five identical coins, among which one is uniquely weighted (either lighter or heavier) compared to the others. The task is to devise a strategy to determine the distinct coin and to ascertain how many times we need to use the balance scale for this purpose.

Discovery Learning: Advanced Group (in Algebra II or above)

Speaker: Kyle Murphy, Texas A&M University

Title: Lights Out!

Abstract: We will explore the possibilities of the classic puzzle Lights Out. Starting with simple configurations of lights in two dimensions, we will move on to playing Lights Out in three or even four dimensions, with the goal of trying to find out what kinds of configurations are always solvable - and how this might change between dimensions. 

Problem-Solving: Beginner Group (in Pre-Algebra and below)

Instructors: Dr. Kun Wang (Texas A&M), Dr. Xin Liu  (Texas A&M),  Dr. Bo Zhu (Texas A&M), Dr. Simone Cecchini (Texas A&M)

Problem-Solving: Intermediate Group (in Algebra I or above)

Instructors: Dr. Jinmin Wang (Texas A&M), Dr. Suhan Zhong (Texas A&M), Dr. Zhizhang Xie (Texas A&M), and Xiaoyu Su (Texas A&M)

Problem-Solving: Advanced Group (in Algebra II or above)

Instructors: Dr. Samson Zhou (Texas A&M), Dr. Sherry Gong (Texas A&M), Dr. Collin Victor (Texas A&M), Abishek Hariharan (Texas A&M) and Andrew Yu (Harvard University)

Please visit our Registration page to register your student(s).