A CORDIAL INVITATION is extended to your school to participate in the fifteenth annual American Mathematics Contest -> 8 (AMC->8) to be held on Tuesday, November 16, 1999. Over 240,000 students participated in 1998. The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) has placed the AMC->8 on the NASSP National Advisory List of Contests and Activities for 1999-2000.

The purpose of the examination 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.

The AMC->8 covers material normally associated with the seventh and eighth grade mathematics curriculum including (but not limited to) such topics as the arithmetic of integers, fractions and decimals, percent and proportion, number theory, informal geometry, perimeter, area, volume, probability and statistics, and logical reasoning. No problem will require the use of algebra. Although calculators are allowed, no problem will require the use of calculators. It is a 25-question, 40-minute multiple choice examination with no penalty for guessing. The examination score is the number of problems solved correctly.

Registration may be accomplished by mailing or FAXing the REGISTRATION FORM found in this brochure. Fees for each school wishing to register are as follows:

• Registration (Jan. 1 - Oct. 15)..................$15
• 2nd Registration (Oct. 16 - Nov. 1)..........$20
• Late Registration (after Nov. 1).............$25

Exams (including student answer forms) are sold in Bundles of 10 @ $8 per bundle. The minimum charge for a school wishing to participate in the AMC->8 is $23 (including the early registration fee) and would enable 10 students to participate.

Late Registrations (after Nov. 1) will be accepted via FAX 402-472-6087 or phone 1-800-527-3690. Visa & Mastercard are accepted. Unpaid orders will be accepted only with a Purchase Order #, and a $3 invoicing fee will be added.

The AMC->8 is to be given in each participating school on TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1998 in a convenient 40-minute period. If it is not possible to administer the exam at the same time to all students, the exam may be given several times throughout the day during the regular mathematics class period. This exam is for individual recognition; schools are not ranked. All exams will be scored in Lincoln. ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST BE IN GRADE 8 OR BELOW.

EARLY ADMINISTRATION OF THE EXAM 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. 18-24) is permitted in cases of school academic conflicts or sudden school closing. When a window date is used schools are still granted official status with regard to all intramural and national award recognition.

Since the exam can be taken on alternate dates, to protect its integrity, publication or reproduction of the problems/solutions via copier, telephone, e-mail, WWW or media of any type is a violation of the copyright law.

No problems on the exam will require the use of a calculator. However any non-typewriter keyboard calculator may be used during the exam including the TI-89.

Braille and Large Print editions of the 1998 AMC->8 will be available at a cost of $.80 for each exam ordered plus $3 for postage and handling. Requests for Braille and Large Print copies of the Exam must be received by the office of the Executive Director, not later than NOVEMBER 1st.

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

National Awards are given to all students who officially participate in the exam and write a perfect paper. In addition, an elegant award plaque is given to the top scoring student in each state. All schools returning results for three consecutive years will receive a free 12-Year Plaque with the top scoring student's name engraved. Each year thereafter an engraved namplate will be sent indicating the top scoring student.

• 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 for each school section will receive respectively a gold, silver, or bronze Certificate for Outstanding Achievement. In case of tie scores, additional certificates will be included with your results.
   
• An AMC->8 Honor Roll Certificate is given to all high scoring students.
   
• An AMC->8 Merit Roll Certificate is given to high scoring students who are in 6th grade or below.

"Edyth May Sliffe" Awards will be given regionally to fifty sponsoring schools and their teacher designate from high scoring AMC->8 schools. The award consists of a $100 check, membership in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and a Teacher Recognition Certificate.

Recognition is hereby given to the following sponsors whose contributions are significant to the success of the AMC->8.

Many teachers order copies of prior year exams using the AMC 8 Publications Order Form (.pdf format) in order to provide an opportunity for their students to prepare for the AMC->8 and reinforce concepts taught in their courses.
 

• Specimen Sets of Prior Year Contests
  Each specimen set (at $1 each) consists of a question booklet and a solutions pamphlet. In order to provide a wider distribution of prior year exams and solutions to more students, bulk orders of specimen sets may be purchased at a reduced rate.
   
• Summary of Results and Awards
  The Summary (at $5 each) contains a listing of Participating Schools, Student Awards, Student Honor Roll, statistical results and more.