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Mathematical circles

17 Gauss Way
Berkeley CA 94720-5070

Mathematical Sciences Research Institute

are gatherings that give
mathematicians the opportunity to share their deep
understanding and appreciation for the subject with
school students who are looking for new challenges in
mathematics. Using a variety of approaches such as
problem-solving, individual and group exploration of noncurricular
topics, reading guidance, competitions, and just plain fun, the circles
help students acquire usefull mathematical ideas and techniques.

Mathematical Circles Library
What is MCL? MSRI and the AMS have teamed up to provide
support for math circles through the Mathematical Circles Library,
which includes books of several types: collections of solved problems,
pedagogically sound expositions, discussions of experiences in math-
ematics teaching, and practical books for organizers of mathematical
circles.
Some of the books are translations from the Russian — there has long
been a thriving tradition of math circles in Eastern Europe — while
others were written in English by mathematicians who lead circles or
are otherwise experienced in mathematics education.
Most books are suitable for both students and leaders in math circles.
Parents of participants will also find the books useful.

Make a Proposal. We are always on the lookout for a good

project! If you would like to suggest a book for publication in the
MSRI–MCL series, in any language, whether authored by you or
someone else, please write the series managing editor, Silvio Levy
levy@msri.org, with a brief description of the work.
Projects are judged by an international Editorial Board with a varied
membership: authors, Math Circle organizers, leaders in the teaching of
mathematics to gifted students, and research mathematicians with an
involvement in K–12 education.

The Mathematical Sciences Research Institute in Berkeley,

BERKELEY, CA
Permit No. 459

California, is a world-renowned center for mathematics research

Organization
US Postage

Non-Profit

This book series is co-published by the and outreach, dedicated to the advancement of knowledge in
PAID

Mathematical Sciences Research
Institute and the American
Mathematical Society, with
the generous support of
the Templeton Foundation.
mathematics and the mathematical sciences, through research
semesters and workshops, summer graduate courses, public events,
and support for K-12 and undergraduate educational initiatives.
17 Gauss Way, Berkeley CA 94720-5070
www.msri.org (510) 642-0143
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Forthcoming:
Moscow Mathematical Olympiads, 1993–2005
in two volumes
Edited by
R. M. Fedorov, A. Y. Kanel-Belov, A. K. Kovaldzhi and
I. V. Yashchenko
One of a new generation of problem books, offering not only prob-
lems and solutions, but hints, extensions, and suggestions for work
with students. This book is aimed at leaders of mathematical cir-
cles who are looking for new activities for their circles, at teachers
who seek enrichment experiences for their gifted students, and at
students preparing for Olympiad-style contests. In addition to ad-
dressing the needs of these audiences, the book will help to set a
new standard for collections of contest problems.
Silvio Levy, translation editor
over 200 illustrations
456 pages
Children and Mathematics
A remarkable account of the experiences of one Russian
mathematician with children of school and pre-school age
Alexander Zvonkin
Written as an account of one person’s experiences, this richly illus-
trated volume relates this experience to deeper issues within math-
ematics and to related literature in the field of cognitive psychology.
The book is addressed to mathematicians who want to work with
young children, to teachers and teachers-in-training who would
like to learn about the potential for mathematical thinking among
young children, to educational researchers and trainers of teachers
seeking wider experiences from which to develop hypotheses for
further research.
Paul Zeitz, translation editor
240 pages, illustrated
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Forthcoming:
Moscow Math Circle Curriculum
in Day-by-Day Sets of Problems
Sergei A. Dorichenko
This book is uniquely suitable for people who are just starting a math
circle. The sets are well balanced and have been used and tested in
real circles. The material is coherent, representing a continuous de-
velopment of topics in geometry, combinatorics, algebra and number
theory, spread through two years of circle meetings.
Sergei Dorichenko teaches at the Moscow State University and at
Public School #52, a high school famous in Russia for the high quality
of its math education. He has been active in math circle initiatives
for 20 years, being one of the leaders of the Moscow State University
math circle.
130 pages, illustrated
TO ORDER: http://library.msri.org/msri-mcl/
Introduction to
Functional Equations and Inequalities
Costas Efthimiou
This is probably the first text on functional equations and inequalities
that is accessible to advanced high-school students and undergradu-
ates. Subtitled “theory and problem-solving strategies for mathemat-
ical competitions and beyond”, it carefully progresses from familiar
examples to advanced topics such as the Abel and Schröder equa-
tions.
Efthimiou teaches at the University of Central Florida, where he
heads the Physics Education Research Group, devoted to promoting
science literacy, quantitatitve fluency, and information fluency.
300 pages, illustrated
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Already in Print:
A Decade of the Berkeley Math Circle
The American Experience, Volume 1
Edited by
Zvezdelina Stankova and Tom Rike
This book uses a dozen sessions presented at the pioneering Berkeley
Math Circle to illustrate the variety of topics these extracurricular
programs cover in inspiring young people to a lifelong love of math-
ematics. The book offers a thorough introduction to the structure
and content of mathematical circles. It is designed to motivate ad-
vanced students, their parents, and teachers of mathematics who are
interested in establishing these programs.
MSRI Mathematical Circles Library, vol. 1, 2008
326 pages. ISBN 978-0-8218-4683-4
List $49.00; AMS member $39.20
Circle in a Box
Sam Vandervelde
[A]n excellent resource for those interested in math circles, including stu-
dents and parents (they can just skip the organizational part and go directly
to the presentations and problems). For those interested in starting and run-
ning a math circle, I think it is an invaluable resource. — MAA Reviews
This book offers mathematicians and high school teachers all of the
assistance necessary to establish math circles that successfully reach
out to promising students. It includes operational advice based on
conversations with circle directors and it outlines independent math
circle sessions on a variety of topics. The author launched the Stan-
ford Math Circle and also coordinates the Mandelbrot Competition
for high schools.
MSRI Mathematical Circles Library, vol. 2, 2009
217 pages. ISBN 978-0-8218-4752-7
List $39.00; AMS member $31.20
c 2010 Alex Scorpan
design