Charlotte Mathematics Club
Newsletter, Winter 1998-99

It's mid-year and time to remind ourselves of the many mathematical opportunities coming up. Thanks to all for a great Fall; we look forward to seeing you, first-timers and veterans, in the new year!


Outline:
  • Charleston Trip
  • Mandelbrot Competition
  • Service Opportunity
  • CMC Spring Schedule
  • Calendar of Related Events
  • Ponder this
  • Contacts

  • College of Charleston Math & Science Weekend:

    Note: The CMC policy with respect to all competitions is...

    If your school is attending, you must participate with your school.

    Each year, for the past 8 years or so, CMC has taken a group of students to Charleston to participate in the College of Charleston Math and Science Weekend. This year, the "C of C" Weekend is February 26--27. We drive to Charleston on Friday afternoon to arrive in time to check into our accommodations (the Hampton Inn Riverview in Charleston) and make our way over to the Friday evening computer programming contest. The math and science competition begins at 9 am Saturday with the "Level" tests (there are three levels for students from Algebra through Pre-Calculus and beyond) and continues into mid-afternoon with various team and individual events. Lunch at the college cafeteria is included in the registration. The contest concludes with an awards ceremony at about three o'clock. Following the close of the contest, our group usually explores the Market area of Charleston, and then we go to a good local restaurant for dinner. The evening activity has traditionally been bowling at a local bowling alley. Sunday morning we get up and eat breakfast and then leave for home.

    Most rooms at the Hampton Inn have a king-sized bed and a sleep-sofa. We are planning to have three students in each room. Also, the hotel has a complimentary breakfast buffet.

    The club organizes transportation (by van and/or cars) for members who decide to participate, and pre-pays the registration fees for the contest. Each member who attends the C of C is responsible for paying for his or her own food and incidental expenses, as well as for lodging and a contribution towards gas and other costs that are paid by the club. The expenses for the student are $52 for two nights lodging, $10 for the gas/other costs contribution, the cost of meals (about $15-25), and $5-10 for bowling and/or snacks.

    Signing up: Space is limited and you must pre-register by January 29. Pre-registering means

    When we know who is coming we will follow up with details on transportation and the necessary release and personal information forms.

    Mandelbrot Competition:
    The Charlotte Mathematics Club is currently participating in the 1998-99 Mandelbrot Competition. Daren Starnes (CCDS) is organizing our participation this year. Rounds one and two were in November and December; rounds three and four will be on January 16 and February 20 at Charlotte Country Day School. At mid-year, we have national ranking for both team and individual results.

    Service Opportunity:
    The annual MathCounts Chapter Competition at UNCC will be held on February 13, 1999. The contest is sponsored by the Professional Engineers of NC, but they are always delighted to have student volunteers to help them out on contest day from about 8 or 9 am until early afternoon. If you are in at least the 9th grade and are interested in helping out with the upcoming contest, please let Mrs. Schaeffer know as soon as possible.

    The Mecklenburg Math Club can always use student helpers. Check out the MMC info below for meeting dates and times. For more information call Russell Hinson at 704-343-6975.

    Spring 1999 CMC Schedule:
    Meeting dates for Spring 1999 are:
    January 9 March 6 (Tournament of Towns)
    February 6 April 10
    February 26-27 (Charleston) May 29 (10am--3pm: picnic at Boyce Road Park)

    Time & Place:
    Meetings start at 9:30 and end promptly at 12 noon. Parents, please arrange to pick up your student no later than 12:10. Unless otherwise noted, our meetings are at Providence Day School (PDS), located at the corner of Rama Rd. and Sardis Rd.

    Calendar of Related Events:
        Jan  9    CMC meeting
        Jan 16    Mandelbrot, round 3
        Jan 30    Davidson/NCML meet
        Feb  6    CMC meeting
        Feb  9    AHSME
        Feb 13    MathCounts South Piedmont Chapter Competition at UNCC
        Feb 20    Mandelbrot, round 4
        Feb 26-28 College of Charleston Math & Science Weekend
        Mar  6    Wylie Mathematics Tournament at Furman
        Mar  6    CMC meeting 
        Mar  8    UNCC Math Contest (State Regional: Comprehensive)
        Mar 27    MathCounts State competition
        Apr 10    CMC meeting
        Apr 17    CCDS Math Contest (State Regional: Alg. 1, Geom., Alg. 2)
        May 29    CMC picnic 
    
    
    The Mecklenburg Math Club (MMC) is a group for students of grades 4 through 6. Meeting dates for the MMC during Spring 1999 are: Jan. 9, Feb. 13, Mar. 13 and Apr. 10. Meeting time is 9:30-noon on these dates. The club meets at Northridge Middle School, 7601 The Plaza, Charlotte, NC. The school is located near the intersection between Harris Blvd. and The Plaza. The school's telephone number is 343-5015. For more information about the MMC, call Russell Hinson, 343-6975. This year, the MMC is again participating in the Math Olympiad for Elementary Schools. If you have younger siblings, tell them about the MMC. The MMC now has a web site: http://www.math.uncc.edu/~hbreiter/clubs/mmc.htm.

    Ponder this...
    Consider the enciphered message
    L H T R S H N W R N C D X C P
    This coded message was obtained via a process called "linear substitution cipher" of the form y = ax + b (mod 26). Each letter of the original message is changed to a number (A = 00, B = 01, C = 02, ..., Z = 25; spaces are omitted), each number then transformed into a new number via the linear (modular) equation y = ax + b (mod 26), and the new numbers replaced by corresponding letters. For example, if the enciphering formula is y = 11x + 6 (mod 26) then K would encipher as M (since (11)(10) + 6 = 116 = 12 (mod 26)). Decode the message given above and determine the enciphering formula.

    Contacts:
    The CMC Coordinating Committee (CMC3?)...
    Stephen Davis: 704-894-2343 (w)
    704-894-2005 (fax)
    704-892-1394 (h)
    email: stdavis@davidson.edu
    Harold Reiter: 704-547-4561 (w)
    704-510-6415 (fax)
    704-364-5699 (h)
    email: hbreiter@email.uncc.edu
    Susan Schaeffer: 704-552-2869 (h) email: susans@conninc.com
    Daren Starnes: 704-943-4592 (w)
    704-943-4675 (fax)
    email: dstarnes@oven.ccds.charlotte.nc.us
    CMC homepage: http://www.davidson.edu/math/cmc.html

    Go back to...

  • Charleston Trip
  • Mandelbrot Competition
  • Service Opportunity
  • CMC Spring Schedule
  • Calendar of Related Events
  • Ponder this
  • Contacts