Integration Bee Helps High School Students Prepare for AP Test

The University of Scranton Mathematics Department will host area high school students for The University of Scranton's Second Annual Integration Bee on April 22. The Integration Bee works like a spelling bee, except contestants must calculate integrals instead of spelling words.

The Integration Bee has the added benefit of helping students prepare for May's AP test, according to Stacey Muir, Ph.D., assistant professor of mathematics at Scranton.

"The students will use these calculations on the AP test. By participating in the bee, they will not only get prizes, but will also hone their skills," said Dr. Muir.

The winner of the bee will receive $100 and the title of High School Integration Champion. The first runner-up will receive $50, and the second runner-up will receive $25. All participants will receive certificates and compete for additional prizes.

In the double elimination bee, participants must correctly find antiderivatives of single real variable functions. Early in the bee, students will be challenged to solve problems using integrals of powers, integrals of trigonometric functions and integrals of exponential functions. For the participants that make it to the later rounds, the difficulty will increase and problems will include substitution, integration by parts and completing the square.

There is no charge for participation, however, registration is required. The registration deadline is Apr. 14. Interested students can register at http://math.scranton.edu/bee. The first 20 registrants will receive a free t-shirt.

The Integration Bee will be held the ballroom of the Patrick and Margaret DeNaples Center, on the campus of The University of Scranton.

For additional information contact Dr. Muir at 941-6580.