Best Books and Study Material for Olympiad Exam – Are you a maths enthusiast? Do you want to take part in the Math Olympiad? Are you confused over which books will help you prepare effectively for it?
Well, if the answer to all three questions was yes, you just got lucky. In this article, we will be covering a few books and study resources that will be beneficial in your preparation for a math olympiad. Let’s get to it!
Table of Contents
Indian National Mathematics Olympiad-Rajeev Manocha
This book has been designed to provide relevant and useful content for Indian National Mathematical Olympiad (INMO) preparation. However, it is also effective for RMO and other mathematics Olympiads. It covers almost all the mathematical concepts asked in various olympiads. The book is all-inclusive and carefully researched.
The book is divided into 6 lessons. It has challenging and interesting problems from various math olympiads. It has plenty of solved examples and unsolved practice problems for students. Every chapter has exercises divided into two levels, one for RMO and the other for INMO. It also includes solved question papers that can be of huge help to your preparation. It consists of various mathematical problems and solution strategies. This book is a valuable addition to your preparation for the math Olympiad.
Challenge and thrill of pre-college mathematics-V. Krishnamurthy
This is a great book for students in Classes 9, 10, 11, and 12. It is meant for students that want to go beyond what is taught by traditional maths textbooks. This book covers geometry, algebra, trigonometry plus a little combinatorics, number theory, and probability. This book has been written by dedicated specialists in the field of mathematics so students can be assured of its quality and accuracy. Since 1988, the authors have also been involved in the training of the national teams for the International Mathematical Olympiad.
The books are designed to encourage students to enter the magical world of mathematics and problem-solving. It includes over 300 solved problems and a lot of them are from the national and international level olympiads. This book builds a strong foundation and gives a clear introduction to concepts.
This book should be in the hand of every school or college student. Those who already love maths will enjoy the challenges and problems in the book, whereas students who dislike mathematics might begin enjoying it as they read this book. This book might begin your lifelong friendship with mathematics. This book is perfect for Olympiad preparation and it makes the learning process fun and interesting.
Problem-solving strategies-Arthur Engel
This book is a compilation of problems from over 20 national as well as international mathematics competitions for pre-college level students. This book is a must-have if you enjoy solving complicated and challenging questions.
The book is designed in such a way that each chapter begins with a few examples to clarify the central concepts. The examples are followed by various problems and their solutions. However, some of the questions require students to find the solution themselves.
The art and craft of problem-solving-Paul Zeitz
This book provides strategies and teaches students how to approach problem-solving. It gives students the tools and means to solve problems. It teaches you how to approach a problem with the right mindset. The book compares solving a mathematical problem to climbing a peak of a lofty mountain. The problem solver sets out on a journey for an elusive solution through twists and turns. Just like for a climber, losing one’s way and then finding it is all part of the adventure so it is for a problem-solver too!
This book provides insightful new ways of looking at problems and consists of problems from different levels of competition. The author, Paul Zeitz was a member of the first American team to compete in the IMO held in 1974 and also won the USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO). He has also trained various American teams for the IMO.
Mathematical Olympiad Challenges -Titu Andreescu, Razwan Gelca
This book includes enlightening and useful sums from algebra, geometry, trigonometry, combinatorics, and number theory. It is designed conveniently. It consists of numerous problems, solutions, and examples too. This book is a great choice for anyone interested in creative problem-solving in mathematics, as the author stresses the importance of creative solutions to open-ended problems.
The authors of the book are also highly accomplished and notable professors. They have also coached the US International Mathematical Olympiad team.
Pathfinder to Olympiad Mathematics-Vikash Tiwari
The author of the book, Vikash Tiwari has been training students for mathematical olympiads for the last 20 years and is a well-known person in the field of mathematics. This book has been drafted as per the guidelines of the national and international maths olympiads. The questions included in the book have been chosen after careful research so that they are useful to olympiad aspirants. It also provides insightful knowledge about how certain formulae and equations originated.
Previous year Question papers
Solving previous year’s question papers is an important part of IMO preparation. It is an excellent way to get better acquainted with the quality of questions asked in a maths olympiad. Going through previous year’s question papers will also help you understand the importance of topics as compared to other topics. You will also have a better idea of the paper pattern, scoring pattern, and the kind of questions that come in the exam. You can search for question papers online, for example, you may search for IMO Maths Olympiad Previous Year Question Paper Class 10 2012.
In addition to this, you can also solve IMO sample papers and mock tests. While solving these papers, try to simulate the exam environment as best as possible. Give yourself a time limit too. This method is a great way to self-assess your preparation level and find out which areas need more work. This will increase your speed, accuracy and also improve your problem-solving skills while solving questions. This will boost your confidence when your test day finally arrives.
Hope these books and study materials help you in your preparation!
