I. INVITATION AND PARTICIPATION

WE EXTEND A CORDIAL INVITATION to your school to participate in the Eighteenth Annual AMC 8 to be held on Tuesday, November 19, 2002. Over 200,000 students (in grades 8 and below), from more than 3000 schools participated in 2001. We truly hope that you will participate in this year's contests.

II. Purpose

The purpose of the contest is to increase interest in mathematics and to develop problem solving ability through a friendly competition. The questions range in difficulty from easy to very difficult in order to appeal to a broad range of students. For general information on the American Mathematics Competitions please visit us at <www.unl.edu/amc>. For information specific to the AMC 8, visit <www.amc8.org>.

III. Exam Subject Matter & Format

The AMC 8 covers material normally associated with the middle school mathematics curriculum. Each year an increasing number of accelerated fifth and sixth grade students take part in the AMC 8. The subject matter includes (but is not limited to) such topics as:

Estimation Percent Graph Theory

Reading and interpreting graphs Spatial Visualization Everyday Applications

No problem requires the use of algebra. Even though calculators are allowed, no problem requires the use of a calculator. The AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40-minute multiple choice contest with no penalty for guessing. A student's score is the number of problems solved correctly.

IV. Registration Deadlines & Fees

You may register by mailing the REGISTRATION FORM found in this brochure. Fees for each school wishing to register are as follows:

• Early Registration (Jan. 1 - Oct. 10) $25
• Registration (Oct. 11 - Nov. 1) $35
• Late Registration (Nov. 2 - Nov. 12) $45

Contests (including student answer forms) are sold in Bundles of 10 @ $10 per bundle. The minimum charge to participate in the AMC 8 is $42 (including the early registration fee & shipping charge) and would enable 10 students to participate.

Late Registrations (after November 1) will be accepted via FAX 402-472-6087 (please do not fax your order before this date). Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are accepted. Unpaid orders will be accepted only with a Purchase Order number.

V. Participation Rules & Eligibility

The AMC 8 is to be given in each participating school on TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2002, in a convenient 40-minute period. If it is not possible to administer the Contest at the same time to all students, the exam may be given several times throughout the day during a regular mathematics class period. This Contest is for individual recognition; schools are not ranked. All answer forms will be scored in Lincoln, Nebraska. ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST BE IN GRADE 8 OR BELOW.

VI. Alternate AMC 8 Dates

EARLY ADMINISTRATION OF THE CONTEST IS NEVER PERMITTED and will lead to disqualification since this would jeopardize all scores from other participating schools!

Administration on a later "window" date (Nov. 20-Nov. 26) is permitted in cases of school academic conflicts or school closing. When a "window" date is used, schools are still granted "official" status with regard to all intramural and national award recognition.

VII. Security & Integrity of the Exam

Since the exam can be taken on alternate dates, in order to protect its integrity, publication or reproduction of the problems/solutions via copier, telephone, e-mail, www or media of any type is strictly prohibited.

VIII. Calculators

No problem on the exam requires the use of a calculator. However, any non-typewriter keyboard calculator may be used.

Summary of Results and Awards The Summary (at $10 each) contains a listing of Participating Schools, Student Awards, Student Honor Roll, statistical results and more (See Publications Order Form later in this brochure).

IX. Braille and Large Print Exams

Braille and Large Print editions of the 2002 AMC 8 will be available at a cost of $1.00 for each test ordered plus $7 for all postage and handling. Requests for Braille and Large Print copies of the Contest must be received by the office of the Director, not later than NOVEMBER 1, 2002.

X. Results and Awards

The registration fee provides each participating school with a copy of the Contest and solutions pamphlet, individual school results, intramural awards and the National Summary of Results and Awards.

National Awards are given to all official participants who write a perfect paper. In addition, an elegant award plaque is given to the top scoring student(s) in each state.

XI. Intramural Awards

• A Certificate of Distinction is given to all students who receive a perfect score.
• An AMC 8 Winner Pin is given to the student(s) in each school with the highest score.
• The top three students in each school section receive a gold, silver, or bronze Certificate for Outstanding Achievement. In case of ties, additional certificates are included with your results.
• An AMC 8 Honor Roll Certificate is given to all students who score in (approximately) the top 2%.
• An AMC 8 Merit Roll Certificate is given to all students in 6th grade and below who score in (approximately) the top 2%.

XII. School & Teacher Recognition

The “Edyth May Sliffe” Award will be given regionally to fifty teachers from high scoring AMC 8 schools. This award consists of a $100 check, membership in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, a Teacher Recognition Certificate and an Award pin.

XIII. AMC 8 Publications

Many teachers order copies of prior Contests in order to provide an opportunity for their students to prepare for the AMC 8 and reinforce concepts taught in their classes.

• Specimen Sets of Prior AMC 8 Contests(and AJHSME’s) Each specimen set (at $1 each) consists of a question booklet and a solutions pamphlet. For a wider distribution of prior tests and solutions, bulk orders of specimen sets may be purchased at a reduced rate.

XIV. AMC 10, AMC 12, AIME & USAMO

A 2003 AMC 10/AMC 12 Invitation Brochure will be included with your results if you have students with a high score. The date of the AMC 10/AMC 12 is Tuesday, February 11, 2003 or Wednesday, February 26, 2003. The AMC 10 and AMC 12 are the High School level contests sponsored by the MAA American Mathematics Competitions. Students who are in the top 5% of all participants or score at least 100 points on the AMC 12 and those who are in the top 1% of the AMC 10 participants are invited to participate in the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME), scheduled for TUESDAY, March 25, 2003, or Tuesday, April 8, 2003. The top-scoring U.S.A. AMC 10 and AMC 12/AIME students (according to a weighted average) will be invited to take the prestigious U.S.A. Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO) in early May, 2003. More details about these competitions are provided in the AMC 10 and AMC 12 Teachers' Manuals which you would receive after registering your school for the AMC 10/AMC 12.

XV. The Akamai Foundation

The Akamai Foundation is again this year generously providing funds for the expansion of several MAA AMC activities. These include national scholarships, which were new in 2001, and other programs. This information follows.

AIME Akamai Scholarships for 2002 - 2003

• After final scores for all participants on the AIME 2003 have been tabulated and verified, the $1.000 scholarship winners will be notified by mail. Winners of the scholarships will be announced publicly in May 2003, and honored at a special ceremony in their state or district targeted for late May 2003. More details will be announced as they become available.