Florida Association of Mu Alpha Theta
Encyclopedia
The Florida Association of Mu Alpha Theta (FAMAT) is an official chapter of National Mu Alpha Theta
. It organizes competitions in Florida
which include three yearly Statewide Competitions, 15 Regionals, a State Convention, and various other mail-in competitions.
, Pre-calculus, Algebra II, Geometry
, Algebra I, and Statistics
. At state convention, only three levels are used: Theta (Geometry
and Algebra II), Alpha (Pre-Calculus), and Calculus
. Open level tests, which can be taken by students from any division, are also offered at the state convention and include tests such as Statistics
, Number Theory
, and History of Math. Students are allowed to test up (or compete at a Division higher than their own), however they cannot test down. Statistics allow a calculator
, up to a standard TI-84 Silver; however, no other division allows a calculator. Statistics eligibility is limited to only one year, starting from 2007.
will also host a Statewide Competition, attracting schools from all over Florida. One team per school per division is normally allowed. The team questions can either be in the format of one part of the question, or the new format of four parts to each question that can be turned in separately. The hosting school of the Statewide is responsible for writing and editing all tests.
has won the Interschool Competition for nine years in a row starting in 2002.
The Helen Dostal and Barbara Nunn Mail-In Test is given every December as an introduction to the Competition Season. The Nunn is given to students taking Algebra II or below. The Dostal is given to Students taking Precalculus and above. However, material on the Dostal is limited to Precalculus and below.
A new edition is the Susan Hiller mail-in test, which will be given to Algebra I students.
Examples of disputed items include:
Mu Alpha Theta
Mu Alpha Theta is a United States mathematics honor society for high schools and two-year colleges. It has over 89,000 student members in more than 1,800 schools worldwide. Its main goals are to inspire keen interest in mathematics, develop strong scholarship in the subject, and promote the...
. It organizes competitions in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
which include three yearly Statewide Competitions, 15 Regionals, a State Convention, and various other mail-in competitions.
Competition levels
Competition is divided into six levels or divisions, CalculusCalculus
Calculus is a branch of mathematics focused on limits, functions, derivatives, integrals, and infinite series. This subject constitutes a major part of modern mathematics education. It has two major branches, differential calculus and integral calculus, which are related by the fundamental theorem...
, Pre-calculus, Algebra II, Geometry
Geometry
Geometry arose as the field of knowledge dealing with spatial relationships. Geometry was one of the two fields of pre-modern mathematics, the other being the study of numbers ....
, Algebra I, and Statistics
Statistics
Statistics is the study of the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of data. It deals with all aspects of this, including the planning of data collection in terms of the design of surveys and experiments....
. At state convention, only three levels are used: Theta (Geometry
Geometry
Geometry arose as the field of knowledge dealing with spatial relationships. Geometry was one of the two fields of pre-modern mathematics, the other being the study of numbers ....
and Algebra II), Alpha (Pre-Calculus), and Calculus
Calculus
Calculus is a branch of mathematics focused on limits, functions, derivatives, integrals, and infinite series. This subject constitutes a major part of modern mathematics education. It has two major branches, differential calculus and integral calculus, which are related by the fundamental theorem...
. Open level tests, which can be taken by students from any division, are also offered at the state convention and include tests such as Statistics
Statistics
Statistics is the study of the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of data. It deals with all aspects of this, including the planning of data collection in terms of the design of surveys and experiments....
, Number Theory
Number theory
Number theory is a branch of pure mathematics devoted primarily to the study of the integers. Number theorists study prime numbers as well...
, and History of Math. Students are allowed to test up (or compete at a Division higher than their own), however they cannot test down. Statistics allow a calculator
Calculator
An electronic calculator is a small, portable, usually inexpensive electronic device used to perform the basic operations of arithmetic. Modern calculators are more portable than most computers, though most PDAs are comparable in size to handheld calculators.The first solid-state electronic...
, up to a standard TI-84 Silver; however, no other division allows a calculator. Statistics eligibility is limited to only one year, starting from 2007.
Regional
FAMAT divides Florida into five regions. Every year in January, February, and March, one school from each Region hosts a competition. Between 20 to 30 schools attend each Regional and compete in Team and Individual. Tests for Regionals are written by FAMAT.Statewide
Every year in January, February, and March, one schoolSchool
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
will also host a Statewide Competition, attracting schools from all over Florida. One team per school per division is normally allowed. The team questions can either be in the format of one part of the question, or the new format of four parts to each question that can be turned in separately. The hosting school of the Statewide is responsible for writing and editing all tests.
Mail-in competitions
FAMAT organizes an Interschool Test every year that is released in November. All members of a school: students, teachers, or alumni work on the test for a week before it is sent in. Palm Harbor University High SchoolPalm Harbor University High School
Palm Harbor University High School, also known as PHUHS, is a nationally-performing public high school for grades 9-12 located in Palm Harbor, Florida. The school's mascot is the Hurricanes and the school's colors are navy and maroon. This school is considered among the finest centers of public...
has won the Interschool Competition for nine years in a row starting in 2002.
The Helen Dostal and Barbara Nunn Mail-In Test is given every December as an introduction to the Competition Season. The Nunn is given to students taking Algebra II or below. The Dostal is given to Students taking Precalculus and above. However, material on the Dostal is limited to Precalculus and below.
A new edition is the Susan Hiller mail-in test, which will be given to Algebra I students.
Students
Students have the option to participate in the active Student Delegate Association. They meet at every Statewide to discuss possible changes and current events to recommend to the FAMAT Executive Board. Recently they have begun a sheet containing frequently disputed items to assist Dispute Centers as well as Test Writers.Examples of disputed items include:
- Is the function
increasing in its entire interval? Yes, because for every x value a and b such that 
, then 
. - What is the correlation if the coefficient of determination is .64? Answer choices .8 or -.8 would be incorrect here. The correct answer is that the correlation cannot be determined.
- If there are 12 flips of a coin, what does it mean to get ten heads? The question refers to getting ten heads exactly, and not at least ten heads.