Stevens Math Circle Initiative

The only prerequisite for joining a math circle is an interest in math, and a willingness to engage with challenging problems, games, and activities.

It may, but math circles are not designed to drill students with routine exercises or prepare them for standardized tests. Rather, they are designed to do something that we feel is much more important: Show students that math is beautiful, interesting, accessible, and fun, all the while encouraging deep and rigorous thinking.

We believe that it is important not to force students into joining a math circle if they have no desire to join. Although students who are struggling with math may benefit from participating in a math circle (if they are interested and want to participate), it is also important to understand that math circles are not intended to provide remediation or tutoring.

This can vary. We do not and have never charged our community partners anything when organizing a math circle, but community partners typically incur some costs. Our math circle programs are usually set up as follows:

• Math circle meetings take place in a space, such as a classroom, provided by the community partner (e.g. public school, public library, or Boys and Girls Club).

• The community partner hires a teacher or staff member to supervise math circle meetings.

• Qualified STEM undergraduates are hired to help lead math circle meetings.

A ratio of one instructor for every 4-6 students is desirable. STEM undergraduates hired to help facilitate meetings may be paid an hourly wage or receive college credit for their work. The cost of running a math circle will vary depending on the number of meetings, the number of participants, and how instructors are compensated.

It is of course desirable for math circle leaders to have a strong math background, but a degree in math or science is not a necessary qualification. The most important qualification is simply a willingness to explore mathematical problems and activities with youth. A typical Stevens math circle is run by one teacher or staff member, as well as talented STEM undergraduates. All of our content comes with detailed instructions and answers to exercises in order to make preparation as straightforward as possible.

Our math circles are flexible and can vary significantly in terms of scheduling. Some may meet for one hour twice per week over the course of an entire school year. Others might meet once per week for 90 minutes over the course of a semester. Still others might meet for only a couple of months. Our content can be adapted to accommodate any reasonable schedule.

Take a look at the nine interlocking cogs shown here:

Is it possible for these cogs to rotate? Why or why not? What if there were ten cogs instead?

A Möbius strip is a fascinating object obtained by taking a strip of paper, giving it a half-twist, and gluing its ends together:

What happens if you cut a Möbius strip along a line drawn halfway between its edges? What do you think happens if you cut it along a line drawn one third of the way between its edges? Can you answer these questions without actually cutting the Möbius strip?

In two years, my little brother will be twice as old as he was two years ago. In three years, my little sister will be three times as old as she was three years ago. Which of them is older?

Place a coin on a tabletop, and place another coin of the same size next to it. Now roll the second coin around the first one without slipping. How many turns does the second coin make after it goes all the way around?

Be sure to conduct an experiment! How can you explain the result?

In the game Bridge It, Math Circle participants take turns creating continuous, nonintersecting paths—one from left to right along the black dots, another from top to bottom along the white dots:

The first player to bridge opposite sides of the playing field wins. Is it possible for this game to end in a draw?