Count Down: Six Kids Vie for Glory at the World's Toughest Math Competition

It is a wonderful book for math education. If you want to know what the mathematician look like in k-12 school, you must read it.

"Count Down" is the story of the annual high school Olympiad of mathematics - a gathering of the best student mathematicians in the world. Participating countries field a team of six students, and over the two day contest, students attempt to solve six extremely difficult math problems. These math problems aren't your everyday geometry or algebra questions - they require a great deal of logic and creativity. Author Steve Olson followed the 2001 contest and got to know many of the students, focusing on the U.S. team. To better understand these students, Olson discusses some of the qualities they possess and that are hypothesized as necessary to excel at math. Each chapter covers a specific quality, such as 'creativity' or 'talent.' These chapters discuss psychological and educational research about how a factor is related to math performance and how it relates to particular U.S. teammates. Topics such as sex and ethnic differences in math abilities are also covered. In addition, each chapter discusses one of the six math problems featured in the Olympiad - examining how a member of the U.S. team solved it. Of course, many people feel intimidated by math and may therefore avoid this book. I think that one does not really need to be a math genius to appreciate what these kids do or to enjoy the book itself. The six problems from the exam are discussed in detail in the appendix, allowing those interested to revel in the minutiae, but a deep understanding of the problems isn't needed to understand the book. Overall, "Count Down is an interesting book on an interesting topic. However, in the end, I thought that the students and their stories were given somewhat short shrift. I didn't really feel as though I knew the students very well, and they are certainly the most engaging aspect of the book. In addition, the psychological and educational research that is presented is covered in a fairly cursory manner. People unfamiliar with research on intelligence and creativity may find this information of interest, but more knowledgeable audiences will likely hunger for a more in-depth analysis. In sum, despite a few flaws, "Count Down" is a solid read on a topic that certainly deserves more attention.

A few years ago, the movie Spellbound gave viewers insight into the world of spelling bees, culminating in the National championship. Since then, I've noticed other competitions getting similar treatments, such as bowling (in The League of Ordinary Gentlemen) and crossword puzzles (Word Play). Although it is a book and not a movie, Steve Olson's Count Down fits right into this genre of the competition documentary. Count Down deals with the International Mathematical Olympiad, in which high school level students from around the world gather together to solve difficult math problems. How difficult? The first problem they are given reads: "In acute triangle ABC with circumcenter O and altitude AP, angle C is greater than or equal to angle B plus 30 degrees. Prove that angle A plus angle COP is less than 90 degrees." This is the easiest of the six questions the Math Olympians must solve. Perhaps coincidentally, there also six members in the U.S. team, so Olson dedicates one chapter to each member and his approach to a problem (it is an all male team). It is like going from Los Angeles to New York by car: there are a number of different routes, each with its pluses and minuses. Similarly, these math problems can be solved a number of different ways. Olson goes beyond the Olympiad itself, however, using it as a launching pad for discussions on topics regarding math education. One key theme that runs through Count Down is how Americans look down on math, often treating those who are good at it with scorns and letting people think that being bad at math is okay. This is contrasted with other countries where math is considered much more valuable. The problem is not merely with the education system but the culture itself. Other topics include the nature of genius and the effects of environment versus genetics. Are boys naturally better than girls at math (which is to say, more genetically inclined), or is it cultural issues that creates a disparity between the genders? (As Olson notes, in the decades of American participation in the Olympiad, boys have outnumbered girls 118 to 1.) Is it even possible to truly separate the two? Can the abilities that these teenagers have be taught to others? Olson keeps the math rather simple so even the mathematical layperson should be able to understand all that's going on. If you enjoy math, this is a recommended read. If you don't enjoy math, this is a must read: it will help show why mathematical skill is not merely nice but is essential.