2022 December Holiday Program – Get Ready for 2023!

Got a Plan? Work with us towards your [ Goal in 2023 ] this coming November – December School Holidays!

Our Year End Holiday Program is back to prepare students for the upcoming school year!

21 Nov to 16 Dec 2022, Mondays to Fridays

Explore courses at our 2022 Year End Holiday Class Schedule!

– Get 10% discount on a full-course payment made by 14 Nov 2022, sign up early!

Hello Students!

School holidays are just around the corner and we are excited to invite you to join our December School Holiday Program because… Learning is inspiring and just like life, we never stop teaching!

What You Can Expect 🙂

• Concepts taught with worked examples by tutor before students attempt related questions…
• Materials crafted to enhance creativity in problem solving…
• Transferable problem solving skills…
• Lessons made comprehensive for learning!
• Hybrid lessons are available too!

P6 Problem Solving Heuristic / PSLE A* Achievers (Math)

This course is a head-start in school syllabus P6 math curriculum for prospective P6 pupils. This will be a good time to revise and pick up skills to tackle higher-order challenging heuristic and non-routine problems, getting a competitive edge among your peers before the bustling year begins.

Topics covered include; 4 Operations in Algebraic Expressions, Problems involving Fractions/Ratio/Decimal/Percentage, Circles, Rate & Speed

P4, P5 and P6 Fusion Math (preparing for NMOS/ RIPMWC/ SMOPS)

This enrichment program is structured for students who want to challenge themselves on the advance content in the mathematics discipline and build a versatile skill set in high order problem solving, with objectives to clinch high tier awards in the local Math Olympiad competitions.

Hwa Chong Institution – Singapore Mathematical Olympiad for Primary Schools (SMOPS) – (2022 link) for P5 & P6 students in 2023

Raffles Institution Primary Mathematics World Contest (RIPMWC) – (2022 link) for P4, P5 & P6 students in 2023

NUS High School of Math & Science – National Mathematical Olympiad of Singapore (NMOS) for P4 & P5 students in 2023

ACSI Annual Mathlympics for all Singapore Primary Schools – (2022 link) for P4 & P5 students in 2023

Gauss Contest for P3 to P6; Sec 1 & 2 students: May 2023

Australian Mathematics Competition for P3 to P6; Sec 1 to 4 students: Jul/ Aug 2023

Science Program

The Science program stresses on the content and its delivery in an engaging manner. Hands-on experiments will be carried out during school holiday programs to build up pupil’s experimental knowledge.

Available levels: Primary 4 (Experimental Learning on Heat & Light Energy), Primary 5 (Experimental Learning on Electricity), Primary 6 (Experimental Learning on Forces & Energy)

Advanced Science for Competition Training – SPSO P4 & P5 / DSA Advanced Science – P5 & P6

The courses listed are offered to students who will be participating in the Singapore Primary Science Olympiad (SPSO), as well as prospective P6 students who will be sitting for the Year 1 admission (science) test to NUS High School of Math & Science in 2023. Click here – (2022 link) to find out more about admission to Year 1 (NUS High School of Math & Science). We welcome prospective P5 students to join this program as well, as an early preparation for upcoming written selection test(s) in their P6 year.

NUS High School of Math & Science – Singapore Primary Science Olympiad (SPSO) – (2022 link) for P4 & P5 students in 2023

Advanced Science by Topic – SPSO P4 & P5 (2022 Year-End Holiday Training Class)

Range of topics selected: Cell Structure & Organisation, Physiology, Digestive System, Transport in Animals, Science Skills & Methodology, Thermal Properties, Transformation of Matter, Acids & Alkalis, Environment Issues & Technology Development, Reflection & Refraction of Light, Solar System & Planet Earth, Magnetism, Electricity

At Math Arena, content of the DSA Advanced Science course is divided into 2 modules:

Module 1: Biology (5-day Program)

Topics covered include; From Cells to Systems, Diffusion & Osmosis, Enzymes, General Health, Human Anatomy, Genetics & Heredity, Ecosystem

Module 2: Physics (5-day Program)

Physics topics include: Physical Quantities, Measurements & Conversion, Graphs of Kinematics, Mass, Weight & Density, Thermal Energy, Sound Energy, Force & Pressure, Light (Reflection, Refraction, Colours & Lens), Current & Practical Electricity

Module 3: Chemistry (5-day Program)

Chemistry topics include: Periodicity of Elements, Compounds & Mixtures, Kinetic Particle Theory, Atomic Structure & Chemical Bonding, Common Chemical Reactions, Separation Techniques

Should you have any further query regarding registratio

n or lesson schedule, kindly send them to enquiries.maec@gmail.com.

Our Opening Hours

Year End School Holidays (21 Nov to 16 Dec 2022)

Mondays to Fridays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Our premises will be opened from 9:45 am onwards. (Closed on Saturdays and Sundays, from 17 Dec 2022 till 03 Jan 2023)

Interested in our 2023 School Term Weekly Classes? Check out our 2023 Semester 1 Class Schedule!

– Get 10% discount on a full-course payment made by 05 Jan 2023!

2023 School Terms 1 & 2:

Tuesdays to Fridays from 3 pm to 9 pm

Saturdays from 9:30 am to 6 pm

Sundays from 11:30 am to 6 pm

(Closed on Mondays, Chinese New Year from 21 Jan to 24 Jan 2023, March Holidays from 18 Mar to 19 Mar 2023, Good Friday 07 Apr 2023, Hari Raya Puasa 22 Apr 2023 and Labour Day 01 May 2023)

— updated since 27 Oct 2022

PSLE-Problem Sums that most P6 pupils stumble over – Part 2

Here are various 2010 Math Prelim questions.

Do try them before checking on the worked solutions.

We will go through more of them in class.

Persis

Question 1

Water from 3 taps was used to fill an empty tank. Tap A, B and C could fill the tank completely in 3 hours, 4 hours and 5 hours respectively.

(a) What fraction of the tank was filled with water after half an hour when all taps were turned on at the same time?

Now only Tap A and B were both turned on to fill another empty tank. After 20 minutes, Tap C was also turned on. Both Tap A and B were turned off at the same time after turning on for an hour and only Tap C was left to fill the tank completely.

(b) How much longer would Tap C take to fill the tank completely with water after Tap A and B were turned off?

 

Question 2

Rainy and Minnie had 1260 beads altogether. Rainy gave 2/3 of her beads to Minnie. Minnie then gave 3/8 of her beads to Rainy. Finally, they had the same number of beads. How many more beads had Rainy than Minnie?

 

Question 3

Kaylene was asked to number the pages of a book. When she had numbered the last page, she had counted a total of 822 digits.

(a) How many 3-digit numbered pages were there?

(b) What is the last page of the book?

 

Question 4

Mei and Jane bought a camera and a watch each. Mei spent ½ of her money on the camera and ¼ of the remaining money on a watch.

(a) What fraction of her money did Mei spend?

Jane spent 3/5 of her money on a camera. Her camera cost $280 more than Mei’s camera. They paid the same amount for their watch and had the same amount of money left.

(b) How much money had they altogether at first?

 

 

Question 5

Mom bought some muffins and tarts in the ratio 4:5. Each muffin cost $2.80. Each tart was $1.90. After giving away 5/8 of the muffins and 144 tarts, the ratio of the remaining items was 3:2.

(a) Find the total muffins and tarts left.

(b) How much more did the muffins cost than tarts?

 

Question 6

Jay and Wei bought the same type of notebooks. Jay bought a few for $80. Wei enjoyed a discount of 20% and bought 4 more notebooks than Jay with the same amount of money. Find the usual price of one notebook.

New! What is Mathematical Olympiad Training Course (MOT)?

What is Mathematical Olympiad Training Course (MOT)?

MOT is a structured course for students who are interested to enrol in Mathematical Olympiad training. The course aims to build a strong foundation in Mathematical Olympiad topics and equips students with the necessary skills needed to tackle Mathematical Olympiad questions.

Who can participate in MOT?

MOT is targeted at students aged 9 years and below. Students aged 8 years and below are required to pass a Modular Diagnostic Paper (MDP) in order to enter MOT.  MDP will test topics related to the four operations (+, –, ×, ÷) and simple fractions (equivalent fractions, addition and subtraction of fractions). This is to ensure that students have the necessary foundation to be able to cope in MOT. The duration of the MDP is 1½ hour, chargeable at $20.

Entry age for new students

Join before TERM 3	Age	Pre-requisite	Course to enter
If your child is	8 years old or younger	MDP	MOT 1
	9 years old	–	MOT 2

Join in TERM 3	Age	Pre-requisite	Course to enter
If your child is	7 years old or younger	–	MOT 1
	8 years old	MDP	MOT 2
	9 years old	–	NMOS 1

Join after TERM 3	Age	Pre-requisite	Course to enter
If your child is	7 years old or younger	MDP	MOT 1
	8 years old	MDP	MOT 2
	9 years old	–	NMOS 1

Primary 5 — Important Preparation Year for PSLE

Primary 5 is a crucial year for PSLE preparation.

(Though we did receive pupils coming in P6 which was especially memorable as those students joined us when we started at Bedok; I really enjoyed teaching them  and was relieved and happy that they did very well.)

As much as possible, we would also teach pupils all the key concepts that is essential for Primary6.

By this time, the students would be taught more advanced methods and not rely only on bar models and guess and check method, which may not be efficient for solving complex PSLE problems.

Thank you for your encouragement

Over the years, I have parents calling us with nice words of appreciation.

Such words, make teaching a joy. Their  encouragement tells us that we are doing the right thing — doing this work.

Some have emailed me, but this is the first time I have a parent penned her thoughts in such detail. Thank You.

Although it smacks of self promotion, i hope the parent doesn’t mind and readers would find it alright. I have removed all names.

Here is the letter:

We value a happy & inspiring environment

If you have read a number of our blog entries, you will know that we care about creating a happy and inspiring environment for children to learn in.

Children already spend long hours in school and most of them have many other activities. So when they make the effort to come to our classes, we must put more thoughts into how we can conduct lessons in a way that is effective, motivating and an overall good learning experience for them.

I write this to remind our instructors that I value this dearly. As I openly state this, we have to live up to it.

I appreciate feedback from parents on how our lessons are conducted. I will work with our instructors to make improvements and corrections whenever necessary. Do give me a call if you need to talk to me.

Persis

Marcel (The Mathematician) and Einstein (The Physicist)

So we know Einstein had a great friend and helper Marcel Grossmann.

Read more: http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Grossmann.html

In August 1912, Einstein arrived back at the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule in Zürich having been appointed to the chair of theoretical physics. He was struggling to extend his special theory of relativity to include gravitation and immediately began collaborating with his old friend Grossmann. It was Grossmann who pointed out to him the relevance to general relativity of the tensor calculus which had been proposed by Elwin Bruno Christoffel in 1864, and developed by Gregorio Ricci-Curbastro and Tullio Levi-Civita around 1901. Einstein, who previously had played down the importance of mathematics, was quickly convinced by Grossmann’s expert explanations. Einstein wrote to Arnold Sommerfeld on 29 October 1912:-

I am now working exclusively on the gravitation problem and believe that I can overcome all difficulties with the help of a mathematician friend of mine here [Marcel Grossmann]. But one thing is certain: never before in my life have I toiled any where near as much, and I have gained enormous respect for mathematics, whose more subtle parts I considered until now, in my ignorance, as pure luxury. Compared with this problem, the original theory of relativity is child’s play.

Special honour is Given to Marcel:

Finally we should mention the honour given to Marcel Grossmann by naming the series of conferences, the Marcel Grossmann Meetings (on Recent Developments in Theoretical and Experimental General Relativity, Gravitation, and Relativistic Field Theories). These conferences, begun in 1975, are international meetings held every three years, which provide opportunities for discussing recent advances in gravitation, general relativity and relativistic field theories. They emphasise mathematical foundations, physical predictions and experimental tests.

Here he acknowledged Grossman in his notebook:

http://www.pitt.edu/~jdnorton/teaching/GR&Grav_2007/Einstein’s_Zurich_Notebook.html

Maths Questions!!

Hi everyone!!
We have a new section dedicated for challenging maths and IQ questions. Solutions will be posted a few days after the questions is posted. Click on the “Maths Questions” link on top of the page to view the questions.

Have fun trying!!

Albert Einstein Needed Help In Math

Albert Einstein was a genius and an icon of science. Albert Einstein needed very complex mathematics to support his theories.

Here is a note on his early days which i took from here:

“According to the Walter Isaacson biography of ‘Einstein His Life and Universe’ (Pocket Books, 2007 ISBN 978-1-84739-054-7), he was not very good at mathematics at all! It seems that whilst he was an undergraduate at Zurich Polytechnic he skipped mathematics lectures and depended upon his friend Marcel Grossmann to take notes for him. It appears that in his intermediate exams in October 1898 he came first in his class with a score of 5.7 out of 6, with his friend scoring 5.6 to come second. However, in mathematics he scored average marks of around 4.25, especially for geometry. He was labelled a ‘lazy dog’ by his mathematics professor – Hermann Minkowski. In August 1900, Einstein only scored 4.9 out of 6 to graduate with his diploma, while his later wife and fellow student Mileva Maric scored only 4.0 and failed the course.”

Marcel Grossmann was indeed a good friend and helped Einstein in many ways. He helped Einstein to get a job and pointed out to Einstein what sort of Math he needed to support his first ground breaking work.

More Next time …

More Stuff on the Blog Coming Up!

Sorry it has been a while, since we updated. We seem to be caught up with work, training activities, preparation work…

I just did a team meeting and we agreed that we will have to update and freshen the blog. We think it is an important way to communicate with parents and students.

We do appreciate helpful comments from our readers along with questions about our centre. That interaction helps us to pay attention to this form of communication.

Persis