CK Math Girls Compete at MIT

The third annual Math Prize for Girls was held at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Saturday, September 17, 2011. Three girls from Cranbrook qualified to take part in the competition based on their American Mathematics Competition (AMC) scores. This competition is the largest monetary math prize in the world for girls. The focus of the competition is to encourage young women with exceptional potential to become the mathematical and scientific leaders of tomorrow.

Cranbrook Math Club Advisor, Shelley Chinn, and the qualifying girls Wanjing (Shelly) Tang, Xin (Shirley) Chen, and Yuan Yuan traveled to MIT for the exciting opportunity. While at MIT, they also met up with Cranbrook Kingswood 2011 alumni Yiyang Luo and Khtepakorn Chakarawet.

During the reception following the contest, all members of the audience were treated to a performance by the MIT/Wellesley Toons singing group. In addition, they were welcomed by Susan Hockfield, President of MIT, and they heard a lecture on the “Secrets of Proofs: The Power of Randomness” by Professor of Computer Science at MIT, Shafi Goldwasser.

The focus of the Math Prize for Girls competition is to let the girls have their own day. While opportunities for women in math and science have grown in the last century, women contestants in co-ed math competitions remain a minority. It is an empowering day to see such powerful women and young ladies involved in mathematics.