The math team started its new season by participating in a series of county and state-wide competitions this past week. Specifically, they participated in the NJ Math League competition, an individual mathematics test composed of difficult riddles and questions.

Among those who participated include seniors Nora Chamesian, Insung Yu, and Julie Jeong, junior Hogan Choi, and sophomores Ace Kim, Jonah Kim, and Timothy Kim. Dr. Arpi Lajinian, math team advisor and teacher, explained that this individual competition is comprised of “6 non-routine math problems, and students have 30 minutes to solve them.” Lajinian continued, “They receive one point for each correct answer. So the highest score on each of the contests is 6.” 

All of these students placed in the five range, indicating an outstanding score and some of the highest performances among all of the New Jersey competitors. Sophomore Ace Kim said, “I love math and science, so it felt great that I did well, but it’s truly the work of Dr. Lajinian that really brings the team together”. 

Additionally, the math team participated in the county-wide individual math competition called the Bergen County Math League Test (BCML). Seven of Lajinian’s math team students placed in the top categories, Levels 4-6, including seniors TaeHo Kim and Insung Yu. Kim and Yu placed at a Level 6, the highest possible score in the BCML. Lajinian stated that, “I think we had a great start this year in both NJML and BCML.”

The math team’s New Jersey Math League rank is now tied for first place in Bergen County.