Everything
added up Saturday for eighth-grader Sadar Vaghar of Hockessin, who
took home a first-place trophy in the first statewide Numerix Bee at
Delaware State University.
"I was really confident and I learned a lot," the H.B. du Pont
Middle School student said after earning top honors for his grade in
the math competition.
More than 100 elementary and middle school students from 20
public and private schools surrendered a sunny weekend morning for
the contest. Organizers and parents said the activity gave students
a chance to hone math and problem-solving skills.
"The logic and skills kids learn though math can help with other
subjects," said Roger Wilson of Newark, whose daughters Medinah, 10,
and Tasneem, 8, competed as students of the Al-Hamd School, a
private religious school in Ogletown. "It's important, and when
students don't learn, it becomes harder to keep up with their
group."
Numerix is the brainchild of Delaware software company Vel Micro
Works Inc. The Web-based program provides students with an answer
and a number set, then challenges them to find ways to use addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division to reach the desired
result. Speed counts, but solutions can vary.
Students can compete across 24 levels of difficulty, with the
system keeping track of times and rankings. Sadar said he was
encouraged to try Numerix after becoming familiar with a card-based
math game.
"I think it's great," said Linda Carlson of Arundel, whose sons
Thomas and Matthew competed from Marbrook Elementary School. "It's
important for kids to learn that there are many ways to approach and
solve a problem."
Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, who helped hand out trophies Saturday
morning, praised students for "exercising your brain" and urged them
to strive to "do just a little better tomorrow than you did today."
Red Clay Consolidated School District hosted the Numerix Bee last
year. Co-founder Kamatchi Vel said organizers hope next year to
expand on a relatively limited contact this year with Kent County
and Sussex County schools.
Reach Jeff Montgomery at 678-4277 or mailto:jmontgomery@delawareonline.com
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