MATHCOUNTS Resources HERE!

[kyyuanmathcount]

This forum has been flooded with requests for past MATHCOUNTS problems. Post all useful websites here; I will try to edit this post. Thanks, and from now, I'll start locking some repeats.

[funcia]

http://www.yashar.biz/mathcounts/

[yhh3002]

Are you allowed to put this thing on this website?


I don't think Mathcounts like this website at all


Better watch out..

[davidlizeng]

please do not post something like this.
instead pm him

[n0vad3m0n]

www.mathcounts.org

the most obvious one but it does contain last year's questions

[mathmom]

It's my understanding that MathCounts does not give permission for sites other than their own to publicly distribute past tests. In which case it seems inappropriate to publicize such sites here.

[pianoforte]

Saab Mathcounts drills site
http://mathcounts.saab.org/mc.cgi/

[n0vad3m0n]

Actually in my school the coach saves the books from previous Mathcounts years I dunno if they help since they are only school level problems (not as hard as chapter or state)

[slamchess]

Speaking of this subject, are we allowed to make a thread where people can trade tests??? Or make our own site to trade tests?

[mathmom]

My understanding is that Mathcounts does not want students trading tests. So AoPS probably would not want you coordinating doing so on their site.

[xscapezaer]

Are we allowed to discuss and share national tests and solutions?

EDIT: Ok, maybe not share, but at least discuss?

[jhredsox]

why don't you post individual problems and discuss those.

you can give the test and say. look at #26, i don't get it. could you help?

you can always trade privately!

-jorian

[life1]

mathmom - why are you so concerned with keeping the secrecy of Mathcounts and the sharing of problems? Yes, people can buy their book, but as others have pointed out, Mathcounts does NOT publish the vast majority of their past tests - and yet, some students and coaches have the advantage (or rather, to the DISadvantage to others) have tests and problems others don't have. Is THIS fair?? Some have posted that their friends and experienced coach have access to everything - and yet, a new coach like me or a student like many here have to scratch and google, and search, and beg, just to have some MATH PROBLEMS -- We are after all, just talking math problems here. Please, have some compassion and instead of discouraging students on this site to share by being a "hall monitor" of sorts, why not help lobby Mathcounts to be more open? Also, feel free to view my posts under "mathcounts secrecy". Thanks.

[mthiyaga]

[slamchess]

Taking all this into account, can we have a mod/admin make a final decison on these topics???

[mathmom]

I don't think MATHCOUNTS is fair in the way they distribute tests, giving experienced coaches and their students an advantage. But they have the copyright on their material, and they have the right to distribute it, or not, as they see fit. Life1, I'm a new coach too, and yes, it is hard to get started. And no, it's not fair. But MC puts a ton of money and resources into the development of their problems and programs, and if they want to be touchy about re-distribution, that is their right. (Part of my family's livelihood comes from sale of copyrighted materials in a totally different domain, so I have reason to care about copyright violation in general.)

I spoke to a mod, and my understanding at this point is that they are not concerned about students sharing pointers to sites that contain the tests. The sites may be violating MC's copyright rights, but MC can take it up directly with those sites. What you can't do is post tests here on the site (as attachments, for example). In that case AoPS may be violating MC's copyright by hosting the information, and they don't want to take that chance.

[jhredsox]

first comment to mathmom: i like your postcount (318)

secondly: she's right. you might as well e-mail the files or im them as attatching them on here takes longer

-jorian

[mathmom]

[mathmom]

[rcv]

I think most people would agree that it's better if students go through their coaches to get past competitions. As far as I know, MATHCOUNTS ordinarily will not object to coaches sharing out of print competitions with other coaches, provided both coaches have teams enrolled in MATHCOUNTS. When coaches have the test materials, they can distribute the materials to many more students, and they can distribute the materials over many years. Some coaches track what materials their students have worked, so you shouldn't go around your coach's back to get old competitions. Getting old competitions can take a substantial effort on your coach's part. Help your coach understand how it will benefit you (this year) and your school (in the long run).

Sometimes a coach can't come through for their student. AoPS is in a sticky situation, here. Due to copyright restrictions, AoPS cannot permit complete competitions to be posted to Forums or Blogs hosted on this Web Site. Please don't do it, and please don't argue about it. Asking for help with individual questions is usually permitted.

For competition sets that are "in print", you or your coach should purchase a set from MATHCOUNTS. There's no question that is legal!

AoPS cannot and does not condone violating anyone's copyrights. But what constitutes a copyright violation is an extremely complex matter that lawyers and judges argue about. For competition sets that are "out of print", it *may* be possible to possess a copy that is legal under fair use guidelines. It *may* also be possible to possess a copy that is legal due to explicit permissions granted alongside the copyright notice in some versions of the test books. Nobody at AoPS can give advice on whether your particular copy is legal. You may not store such copies on AoPS Forums or Blogs, even if you think your copy is legal.

I'm not a lawyer, but common sense suggests you should: (1) Try to get old tests from your coach. (2) Be discreet, but not sneaky. (3) Don't ever post complete tests on AoPS. (4) Don't ever sell a test. (5) Comply with reproduction guidelines printed in the test books. (6) Stay within "fair use" guidelines of copyright law. And, (7) hire your own lawyer. ;-)

I am only a moderator. Any conflicting rule or opinion by an Administrator overrides my opinion.