Australian Mathematics Competition

[rife168]

I'd say he's trying to highlight the difference between the more computationally intensive and rote learned VCE maths skills and the skills required to do well in maths competitions, like lateral thinking, mathematical intuition, foresight and visualisation, the ability to draw from a wide range of concepts and ideas, and so on...
There is going to be some correlation with people who do well on competitions and in VCE maths, but it may not always be the case.
In general, VCE maths is really not an exhaustive and appropriate means by which mathematical ability should be measured.

[Stick]

Thanks man. But I'm sure you did just fine.

I got credit again. Two people in my class got HDs as well.

[paulsterio]

What's the difference between mathematical reasoning and actual mathematics? Just curious (super late response I know), because the kids I knew who did well in this competition (and similar ones) were generally the ones who also did super well in VCE Maths.

Well, I tend to think mathematical reasoning is the ability to "think mathematically" - it's something that can be trained to some extent, but some people will have it to a greater degree than others, like I'm sure your logical/philosophical type reasoning skills would be stronger than most other people, for instance. The gist of these competitions is to apply mathematics into difficult scenarios where you actually have to interpret very complex ideas.

VCE maths is, like Thushan was hinting at, more computational. It relates to being able to hit the right buttons on the calculator and knowing learned facts. It requires a certain amount of reasoning, but less so. It requires other skills such as accuracy (not making errors) and consistency.

I can come up with several examples of those who did well on AMC competitions who didn't go on to do SUPER well on VCE maths (albeit they still did well). E.g. pi did better than me, as a whole, on these AMC competitions (he won several prizes, I think), whereas I never won a prize. However, I did better than him on VCE maths.

Moderator action: removed real name, sorry for the inconvenience

[EvangelionZeta]

What's the difference between mathematical reasoning and actual mathematics? Just curious (super late response I know), because the kids I knew who did well in this competition (and similar ones) were generally the ones who also did super well in VCE Maths.

Well, I tend to think mathematical reasoning is the ability to "think mathematically" - it's something that can be trained to some extent, but some people will have it to a greater degree than others, like I'm sure your logical/philosophical type reasoning skills would be stronger than most other people, for instance. The gist of these competitions is to apply mathematics into difficult scenarios where you actually have to interpret very complex ideas.

VCE maths is, like Thushan was hinting at, more computational. It relates to being able to hit the right buttons on the calculator and knowing learned facts. It requires a certain amount of reasoning, but less so. It requires other skills such as accuracy (not making errors) and consistency.

I can come up with several examples of those who did well on AMC competitions who didn't go on to do SUPER well on VCE maths (albeit they still did well). E.g. pi did better than me, as a whole, on these AMC competitions (he won several prizes, I think), whereas I never won a prize. However, I did better than him on VCE maths.

Oh right, that makes sense then, especially the bit about competitions not leading to SUPER good results (as opposed to just good results).  I can agree there; you whooped my ass in VCE maths, and I was a three time AMC prize winner. </humblebrag>

Moderator action: removed real name, sorry for the inconvenience

[paulsterio]

Oh right, that makes sense then, especially the bit about competitions not leading to SUPER good results (as opposed to just good results).  I can agree there; you whooped my ass in VCE maths, and I was a three time AMC prize winner. </humblebrag>

ooooohh, well done, that's quite an achievement, especially to win 3 - that's the most out of everyone I know of actually

[pi]

I won 3 too


(and Paul also whooped my ass in VCE maths haha, coincidence? o.O)

[EvangelionZeta]

Oh right, that makes sense then, especially the bit about competitions not leading to SUPER good results (as opposed to just good results).  I can agree there; you whooped my ass in VCE maths, and I was a three time AMC prize winner. </humblebrag>

ooooohh, well done, that's quite an achievement, especially to win 3 - that's the most out of everyone I know of actually

To be fair, at least one of those times was a fluke, and any skills that I might once have possessed are non-existent now :p

(and Paul also whooped my ass in VCE maths haha, coincidence? o.O)

We are both in the whooped by Paul club, wooo!...!

[paulsterio]

Just out of curiosity, how seriously did you two prepare for the AMC papers, like did you guys actually do practice...etc?

[EvangelionZeta]

Just out of curiosity, how seriously did you two prepare for the AMC papers, like did you guys actually do practice...etc?

Did absolutely nothing on my own, although very occasionally in-class our teacher would give us AMC-style questions as a challenge.

[humph]

Oh right, that makes sense then, especially the bit about competitions not leading to SUPER good results (as opposed to just good results).  I can agree there; you whooped my ass in VCE maths, and I was a three time AMC prize winner. </humblebrag>

Damn. I never did better than an HD On the other hand, I still managed to do pretty well for myself in the long run Although a third(!) of my direct peers are IMO gold medallists, so I may be somewhat of an outlier....