Weekend Program - Courses

---

IDEA MATH provides in-depth enrichment in important mathematical areas, particularly in the fields from which contests problems are drawn: algebra, combinatorics, geometry, and number theory. The program provides eight major series for students with different mathematical backgrounds. Each course runs for 2 or 3 full sessions, each session is comprised of 6 class meetings, and each class meeting lasts 3 hours. All classes meet on Saturdays during the school year. We have tried our best to avoid SAT test dates, major competition (MATHCOUNTS, HMMT, etc.)dates and school vacations. [See courses schedule]

Course list:

---

 

Courses	Session1	Session2	Session3	Target
PS1*	Linked Course	Linked Course	Linked Course	AMC8
PS2*	Linked Course	Linked Course	Linked Course	AMC8/MathCounts Chapter Round
US1*	Linked Course	Linked Course	Mathcounts	AMC8/MathCounts Chapter/State Rounds
US2*	Linked Course	Linked Course	Mathcounts/AMC10	Mathcounts State/National Rounds /AMC10/AIME

 

Courses	Session1	Session2	Session3	Session4	Target
RS1*	Linked Course	Linked Course	AMC10/AIME	USAJMO	AMC12/AIME/USAJMO
RS2*	Algebra	Geometry	Number Theory	Combinatorics	AIME and USAJMO
ES1*	Algebra	Geometry	Number Theory	Combinatorics	AMC12/AIME/Math Olympiad
ES2*	Number Theory	Geometry	Algebra	Combinatorics	USAMO

PS1 - Math Roots Plus Series      back to list   check schedule

Content: This is a 3-session (54-hour) linked course** on Pre-algebra, (part of) Algebra 1, number sense, and counting.

Teaching materials: Phillips Exeter Academy Math 1 page 1 to page 39 and IDEAMATH PS1 Supplement

Prerequisite: Middle school Pre-Algebra, with approval of the IDEA Math academic staff*

Contest target: AMC8

---

PS2 -- Math Sapling Plus Series      back to list   check schedule

Content: This is a 3-session (54-hour) linked course** on Algebra 1, number sense, counting, and basic concepts of geometry, such as shapes, figures, and measurements.

Teaching materials:Phillips Exeter Academy Math 1 page 40 to page 74 and IDEAMATH PS2 Supplement

Prerequisite: IDEA Math PS1 or middle school Pre-Algebra, with approval of the IDEA Math academic staff*

Contest target: AMC8 / MathCounts chapter round

---

US1 -- Invitation to Contest Algebra and Geometry Plus Series      back to list   check schedule

Content: The first two sessions of this course is 36-hour linked course** on contest Algebra 1 and elements of geometry. The third session of this course is a contest preparation course (in particular, in the subjects of Combinatorics and Number Theory) on MathCounts.

Teaching materials:Phillips Exeter Academy Math 1 page 75 to page 90 and IDEAMATH US1 Supplement , and IDEAMATH US1 Supplement for AMC8, MathCounts and AMC10

Prerequisite: IDEA Math PS2 or middle school Algebra 1, with approval of the IDEA Math academic staff*

Contest target: AMC8/MathCounts Chapter/State Rounds/AMC10

---

US2 -- Comprehensive Introduction to Contest Algebra and Geometry Plus Series         back to list   check schedule

Content: The first two sessions of this course is 36-hour linked course** on contest Algebra 2 and the foundations of higher-level geometry. The third session of this course is a contest preparation course (in particular, in the subjects of Combinatorics and Number Theory) on Mathcounts/AMC10.

Teaching materials:IDEAMATH US2 and IDEAMATH US2 Supplement for MathCounts, AMC10, and AIME

Prerequisite: IDEA Math US1 or middle school Algebra 2 and Geometry, with approval of the IDEA Math academic staff*

Contest target: MathCounts state/national rounds, AMC10, and AIME

 

---

RS1 -- Analytic and Trigonometric Methods in Geometry Plus Series          back to list   check schedule

Content:The first two sessions of this course is 36-hour linked course** on contest trigonometry, (2-D and 3-D) analytic geometry, vector operations. The third session of this course is a contest preparation course (in particular, in the subjects of Combinatorics and Number Theory) on AMC10/AIME. The fourth session of this course is a contest preparation course (in particular, in the subjects of Algebra, Combinatorics and Geometry) on USAJMO.

Teaching materials:IDEAMATH RS1, IDEAMATH RS1 Supplement for AMC12 and AIME and IDEAMATH RS1 Supplement for USAJMO

Prerequisite: IDEA Math US2 or middle school Algebra 2 and Geometry, with approval of the IDEA Math academic staff*

Contest target: AMC12, AIME, and USAJMO

 

---

RS2 -- Junior Olympiad Excursions Plus Series          back to list   check schedule

Content: This is a 4-session (72-hour) survey in which each session is independent of the others (the sessions are not linked). Each session will address one of the four major subjects of Olympiad mathematics, and students will be expected to master the entry-level problems in that subject by the end of the session. First session: Algebra; Second session: Geometry; Third Session: Number Theory; Fourth session: Combinatorics.

Teaching materials: IDEAMATH RS2and IDEAMATH RS2 Supplement for AMC10, AMC12 and AIME

Prerequisite: Written permission of the IDEA Math academic staff*

Contest target: AIME and USAJMO

 

---

ES1 -- Olympiad Excursions with Advanced Computations Plus Series          back to list   check schedule

Content: This is a 4-session (72-hour) survey in which each session is independent of the others (the sessions are not linked). Each session will address one of the four major subjects of the most advanced level computational problems in AMC12 and AIME (with an extension to college level mathematics) and introductory level Olympiad mathematics, and students will be expected to master these levels of problems in that subject by the end of the session. First session: Algebra; Second session: Geometry; Third Session: Number Theory; Fourth session: Combinatorics.

Teaching materials: IDEAMATH ES1 Supplement , IDEAMATH ES1 Algebra , IDEAMATH ES1 Geometry , IDEAMATH ES1 Number Theory , IDEAMATH ES1 Combinatorics

Prerequisite: IDEA Math RS1 and high school Pre-calculus, with approval of IDEA Math academic staff*

Contest target: AMC12, AIME and Math Olympiad

 

---

ES2 -- Olympiad Navigation Plus Series          back to list   check schedule

Content: This is a 4-session (72-hour) survey in which each session is independent of the others (the sessions are not linked). Each session will address one of the four major subjects of Olympiad mathematics, and students will be expected to master the intermediate problems in that subject by the end of the session. First session: Number Theory; Second session: Geometry; Third Session: Algebra; Fourth session: Combinatorics.

Teaching materials: IDEAMATH ES2 Supplement , IDEAMATH ES2 Algebra , IDEAMATH ES2 Geometry , IDEAMATH ES2 Number Theory , IDEAMATH ES2 Combinatorics

Prerequisite: Written permission of the IDEA Math academic staff*

Contest target: USAMO

Please note:
(*) All placement requests will require approval from the IDEA Math academic staff.
(**) It is highly recommended that students enroll in all sessions of a “linked” course, so that they can gain a rounded understanding of the subjects studied.