ENTRIES. As many as THREE students from
EACH GRADE LEVEL (grades 6, 7 and 8) may be entered in the Calculator
Applications District Contest from each school. Designated adults
representing each school will select contestants to represent the
campus at the District Meet based on their abilities and interest in
math calculations, as well as other factors, which
are decided upon by each school. Each grade level is
judged
separately in contest.
• NATURE OF THE
CONTEST. The contest presents 80 problems in
straight-forward numerical calculation, in calculations based upon
geometrically presented problems, and in word problems. Both
accuracy and speed are factors in the competition. Any silent,
hand-held calculator that the student is comfortable using may be used
in the contest and should be brought to competition. The geometric
problems involve knowledge of formulas for simple figures such as
circles, squares, rectangles, and right triangles. The word
problems require application of appropriate mathematical skills and
practical knowlege to real-life situations.
Below we show representative problems of medium difficulty from each
category:
45. (9.17 x 107) (3.37 x 102)
(6.96 x 106) (7.12 x
10-1)
45 = ____________________
47. Three times a certain number, plus 129 squared
equals 19,208. What is the number?
47 = _____________________
48. Lazarus can walk 4.2 miles per hour. If he goes
to the rich
man’s house, which is 2.8 miles away from
where he lives,
to beg for some food twice a day, how much time will
he
spend walking to and from the house in one
week?
48 = _____________________ hours
• WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CONTEST. The contest
director will announce the time and place that contestants and one
adult should report for verification of the scoring of tests.
Contestants will be assisted by the director and assistant(s) in
clearing all calculator memories and turning calculators to the “off”
position. Tests will be distributed to contestants face up, and
contestants will be instructed to write their grade levels and their
contestant ID numbers in the spaces provided on the front cover.
Contestant must not open the test until the start signal is given. The
contest director will tell contestants their ID numbers, usually during
roll call. (Alternates taking the place of absent registered
contestants should be sure to let the contest director know as they
enter the room to save time in roll call.) No alarm watches or
other devices that emit sound are allowed in the contest
room. Contestants will use ONE calculator of their choice
to compute answers on the test during contest time.
TIME ALOTTED. Contestants
will
have 30 minutes beginning at the start signal to use their calculators
to answer the test questions. No time warning
will be
given. Contestants will remain quietly in their seats until the
time
has expired.
MARKING ANSWERS. Contestants
may write on the test paper, but only the answer should be written in
the answer space. ERASURES AND MARKOUTS IN THE ANSWER SPACE ARE
NOT PERMITTED. Any marking in the answer space will constitute an
attempt. Answers may be written in decimal or in powers of 10 notation
of the form, 1.23 x 10-6. Except in the integer and dollar sign
problems, answers should be written with three significant digits only,
with plus or minus one digit error in the third significant digit
permitted. Integer problems require answers written as an
integer, and no error is permitted. Dollar sign problems should
be answered to the exact cent, but plus or minus one cent error is
permitted. Answers should be given in the units specified on the
answer blank, if a unit is required, and with the correct sign.
• SCORING. Add
5 points for each correct answer. Subtract 2 points for
each wrong answer, or for each answer that was marked through or
erased. No points are added or deducted for skipped or unanswered
test items.
• VERIFICATION
PERIOD. No pens or pencils should be in
contestants’ hands while tests and answer sheets with keys are
reviewed. Contestants and ONE coach OR parent OR adult have 15
minutes to check the computation of scores and ask questions about
items counted incorrect. If the contest is held before March 31,
tests must be turned back in to the contest director. Contestants
will be disqualified from the contest should the paper be taken from
the room prior to this date. After verification has been
completed, awards will be issued. (At State, medals will be awarded
through 6th place.)
• MATERIALS. PSIA Calculator Applications District and State tests and answer
keys
are included in both the Elementary and Middle School Academic Study
Materials
Booklets, which may be ordered from the PSIA state office.
An order form for these booklets, plus a booklet that consists of four
separate Calculator tests, is included in the appendix of the PSIA
Academic
Handbook and also may be accessed through this link: PSIA Study Materials Order Form.
A Commonly Asked Question
Q. If the answer to a question is 3.68 x 101, would
the answer be correct if it were given as 3.68 x 10 with the (1)
omitted?
A. 3.68 x 101, 3.68 x 10 and 36.8 are correct
answers. 3.68E1, 3.68 • 101 and 36.8 x 100 are incorrect.
