Student Classes
New York Math Circle’s goal is to constantly challenge your mind. You’ll get to solve unusual problems and invent your own, apply existing knowledge in new situations, learn famous gems of mathematics, and explore the unknown. The Math Circle will open your eyes and increase your sensitivity to all the mathematics around us. Our main requirement is that you have an open mind and a willingness to work.
NYMC is not a tutoring or test preparation program. Classes focus on material you won’t encounter in the regular curriculum. We’ll help you develop reasoning and problem solving skills, and along the way will help you enjoy, appreciate, and expand your knowledge of mathematics.
To subscribe to announcements about student classes, see our contact page.
Fall 2010 Courses top
Our courses are open to all students who are excited about learning and doing mathematics above and beyond regular curriculum. Once you start the program, we expect you to come for the full semester.
Middle School Circle at NYU (Register)
| When: | Saturdays 2 - 4pm, Sep 25 - Dec 18, 2010.
Namely (no class on crossed-out dates): 9/25, 10/2, |
| Where: | NYU Courant Institute, 251 Mercer St (map). Room 512. |
| Instructor: | David Gomprecht. |
| Registration fee: | $195 (may be reduced based on financial need; see FAQ). |
These classes are open to enthusiastic students in grades 7-8 with an interest in learning and doing mathematics. They will include topics in arithmetic, elementary geometry, sequences, and combinatorics. We’ll emphasize problem posing and problem solving, and introduce algebra as needed.
Prerequisites: You should be well-versed in arithmetic, including order of operations, and operations with fractions, decimals, and percents. Enthusiasm about math, and some success in the subject (for example, a 4 on the last New York State Math Exam) are also required.
Middle School Circle at Queens College (Register)
| When: | Saturdays, Sep 25 - Dec 11, 2010.
Grades 5-6: 9am - 10:30am. Grades 7-8: 10:30am - 12pm. Namely (no class on crossed-out dates): 9/25, 10/2, |
| Where: | Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Blvd (map). Powdermaker Hall, room TBA. |
| Instructor: | Joy Hsiao. |
| Registration fee: | $145 (may be reduced based on financial need; see FAQ). |
There are two sections, listed above, open to enthusiastic students with an interest in learning and doing mathematics. Classes will include topics in arithmetic, elementary geometry, advanced counting, and sequences. We’ll emphasize problem posing and problem solving, and introduce algebra as needed.
Prerequisites: You should be well-versed in arithmetic, including order of operations, and operations with fractions, decimals, and percents. Enthusiasm about math, and some success in the subject (for example, a 4 on the last New York State Math Exam) are also required.
High School Circle (Register)
| When: | Saturdays 11:30am - 1:30pm, Sep 25 - Dec 18, 2010.
Namely (no class on crossed-out dates): 9/25, 10/2, |
| Where: | NYU Courant Institute, 251 Mercer St (map). Room 517. |
| Instructor: | David Hankin. |
| Registration fee: | $195 (may be reduced based on financial need; see FAQ). |
This course includes topics in number theory, algebra, and geometry, and addresses subtle mathematical ideas, including the nature and construction of proofs. Some material will come in the form of intriguing problems from contests such as AMC 10, AMC 12 and AIME. Problem posing and problem solving are emphasized throughout.
Prerequisites: You should be enthusiastic about the study of mathematics, and comfortable with regular high school material, including at least basic algebra.
Olympiad Level (Register)
| When: | Saturdays 2 - 4pm, Sep 25 - Dec 18, 2010.
Namely (no class on crossed-out dates): 9/25, 10/2, |
| Where: | NYU Courant Institute, 251 Mercer St (map). Room 517. |
| Instructor: | David Hankin. |
| Registration fee: | $195 (may be reduced based on financial need; see FAQ). |
This course develops important topics in number theory, algebra, combinatorics, and geometry, focusing on harder problems requiring sustained thought and effort. Writing of proofs will play an important role. Many problems will come from contests such as USAMO and International Math Olympiad (IMO).
Prerequisites: You should be enthusiastic about the study of mathematics, and able to do the first few questions on AIME contest. Check out 2009 AIME exam for reference.
Past Courses
We had our first full course for students in Spring 2008. You can see the listing of past courses here.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is there other tuition besides the registration fee?
No. The registration fee is our tuition. There is no other cost.
- My child is struggling in math. Will NYMC help him or her?
Probably not. Our program assumes that participants are already comfortable with regular school material, and introduces a lot of additional interesting topics and problems. It is for children who like math, and would like more of it.
- I attended NYMC last year. Is it going to be the same material this year?
No. All our courses assume that there are returning students, and add new material. Important topics and concepts may be repeated and reinforced, but there are always plenty of new topics and problems to keep everyone engaged and challenged.
- It is hard for my family to afford the registration fee. What can I do?
We are committed to making our courses available to everyone. If your family is experiencing financial hardship, you may request a fee reduction. The difference would come from contributions from private individuals who value and support our work.
To request a fee reduction, register for the course you are interested in, then email us at info@nymathcircle.org. In your email, include the name of the student and any relevant information about your family's financial situation. Are you eligible for public assistance, such as TANF or Food Stamps? Is your household approved for free or reduced-price meals? Is there some special situation? Typically, if you have a proof of financial hardship, such as a letter from a government agency about public assistance, we will reduce your fee significantly, and ask you to send a copy of the letter to us by mail along with your reduced payment. In other situations, we resolve them on a case by case basis.
If a student wants to learn mathematics at NYMC, but money stands in the way, do not hesitate to email us.
- Your fees used to be lower. What happened?
Our fees have been heavily subsidized from the very beginning. The new fee aims to cover our per-student costs, so that private donations only subsidize those who need the help. If you are in that category, you may request a fee reduction (see the question above).
By the way, we also rely on in-kind support from universities for the classes, as well as on donations and grants to cover our administrative costs. If you compare our fees to other programs, you'll see that they are still very low in comparison.
- This program is wonderful. How can I support it?
Private contributions are vital to us, and we would be extremely grateful for a monetary donation. Donations to NYMC are tax-deductible. You can make them here.
There are also some limited volunteer opportunities available, but mainly involving special skills and non-trivial commitment. If you are interested in volunteering, please email us at info@nymathcircle.org, and describe your interests and skills. We'd love to hear from you!
Another great help would be if you can help us spread the word about NYMC. Tell your friends, write about us on your blog, or become our fan on facebook.