Mathletes

Coached by math teacher Norm Lyons and fifth grade teacher Beth Mann, Saint Mark’s Mathletes teams compete at four county meets a year. The seventh and eighth grade students face off to solve problems of algebra, probability, number theory and geometry. Thirteen or so Marin County Middle Schools participate in these competitions.

Individual and team awards are given. Saint Mark’s teams have placed third for three out of the five years they have competed. Individual students have also emerged with perfect scores. In Mathletics, a program sponsored by the Oakland Athletics, Saint Mark’s Mathletes competed in a special meet at the A’s Stadium. Vern Glenn hosted the competition. Saint Mark’s placed third and won Lower Box seats for an A’s game, as well as a baseball cap and baseball, signed by two of the A’s players, for each student.

With typical Saint Mark’s wit, Mathletes share the results of their competitions with fellow students at Assembly through spirited cheers and humorous songs, poking fun at the intellectual nature of their sport.

Saint Mark’s Mathletes meet for 15 minutes, every Tuesday and Thursday, for faculty-led practice sessions.

Try your hand at these sample Mathletes competition problems:

  • Question #1

    Posted March 2

    There were 2700 people stranded in the Denver Airport. In the first 24 hours a certain fraction of the people got flights out. In the second 24 hours the same fraction of the remaining people got out. There were 300 left. What fraction of the people got a flight out in the first 24 hours?

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  • Question #2

    Posted March 2

    A committee of 3 is chosen from a group of 6 students. If the 6 students are A, B, C, D, E, F, what percent of the possible groups would have students E and F on the committee together?

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Saint Mark’s teams have placed third for three out of the five years they have competed.