By: Katie Nelson

Media Production Editor

Students at Los Gatos High School have qualified for the next round of the American Invitational Mathematics Competition (AIME). The competition is school-based, and private and public school students from all over the country can participate. 

To participate in the AIME round, students first had to qualify by scoring highly on the American Mathematics Competition (AMC) 10/12 test. According to the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), the AMC 10/12 test is “designed to promote the development and enhancement of problem-solving skills.” The test consists of 25 multiple choice questions in a 75-minute time frame, and those who scored in the top five percent of all test takers advanced to the next round. 

The subsequent round, the AIME, will take place on Feb. 1. An impressive 59 Saratoga and 10 Los Gatos High School students qualified. The LGHS contestants include (Hunk) Haohsiang Chen, Andreas Haapalainen, Edwin Hou, Eric Hou, Henry Lee, Nolan Lin, Jack Mei, David Roh, Mehaan Sibal, and Zihe Wang.

The AIME test is a 15 question, three hour test that will challenge math students to their maximum. Regarding the difficulty of the test, the MAAstated on its website, “The questions on the AIME are much more difficult than those on the AMC 10 and AMC 12 competitions. Top scoring students on the AIME are invited to take the United States of America Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO) or the United States of America Junior Mathematical Olympiad (USAJMO).”

Gold prizes, silver prizes, and honorable mentions will be awarded to the top students; the gold prizes are distributed to approximately the top six percent of the qualifiers. Since 2010, the United States Junior Mathematical Olympiad has only allowed 500 participants each year, and maintaining this number at the AMC and AIME is extremely difficult. 

Edwin Hou, one of the ten students at Los Gatos who qualified for the AIME, explained, “I’ve done a lot of math competitions ever since middle school when I was introduced to the subject by my friends. Ever since then, I’ve been practicing the AMC series.” To prepare for the AIME in a couple of weeks, Hou states, “Right now, I’m just doing a bit of preparation to hopefully do decent.” 

Los Gatos High School and the El Gato staff wish the best of luck to the contestants of the competition. 

(Sources: Mathematical Association of America)