All about Class 10 Maths Olympiad (IMO)

By- Monika Rao

International Mathematical Olympiads' (IMO) are conducted annually. Olympiad exams are competitive exams that are conducted by various organizations all across India plus abroad. These examinations are conducted on the basis of the school curriculum of ICSE, CBSE, and some other major state boards. These exams help the students understand where their performance stands with their peers across the country. The paper pattern for this exam is that they are all objective-type with multiple-choice questions.

Maths Olympiad focuses on concept-based learning and logical thinking. Attending these exams enhances the abilities of the students which will prove to be an important tool to face the future competition coming into their lives. These exams evaluate conceptual learning and strengthen the reasoning, analytical and problem-solving skills of a student. This in return prepares the students to stay strong with the upcoming challenges yet to come.

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Independent private organizations are present that conduct the Olympiad exams as well, for example SOF, CREST Olympiads, Unicus Olympiads, Educative Initiatives, Indian Talent Olympiad, Humming Bird Education, Eduheal Foundation, Silver Zone Foundation, and Unified Council.

This article talks about the syllabus of the IMO exam for class 10. Use IMO Class 10 2014 Question Paper to get a clear idea about the exam.

• Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning

Verbal and non-verbal reasoning is the frequently asked logical reasoning question. The verbal reasoning aims to test the candidates' aptitude and command over English grammar along with analytical thinking skills. The concepts in verbal reasoning include analogy, classification, coding-decoding, blood relation, the Venn diagram, clocks, calendar, direction and distance, input-output, puzzle, decision making, etc. Non-verbal reasoning tests for analytical thinking too and the concepts in this topic include analogy, classification, image and figure counting, series, cube and dice, and more.

• Real Numbers

Real numbers are a set of numbers that include rational numbers as well as irrational numbers whereas imaginary numbers are a set of numbers that include numbers that aren't real. For example, the root of -2 is imaginary because the number under root would be positive if it were real. In this type of question, a certain equation or expression with a bunch of variables is provided from which one is expected to arrive at the solution and choose one of the options.

• Polynomials

A polynomial is an expression that contains over two algebraic terms. Questions of this include if 𝞪, 𝛃 are the zeros of the quadratic polynomial, then the value of some expression involving 𝞪, 𝛃 must be found out. Or the questions where there is a condition, an equation, and roots are denoted by a and b, one needs to find out the value of the unknown variable.

Also Read: How to Approach NCERT Books for class 6 Maths

• Pair of linear equations in two variables

Linear equations in two variables can be described as equations that are expressed in the format of ax+by+c=0. It covers word problems where two equations are to be deciphered from the given sentences and is meant to be solved to reach the answer. Time, distance, place values, ratios, direct equations and more are some of the topics where they frame questions on.

Olympiad exams are competitive exams that are conducted by various organizations all across India plus abroad.Unsplash

• Quadratic equations

Quadratic equation is an algebraic expression which is of second degree. The general format of a quadratic equation is ax^2 + bx + c = 0. Finding discriminant from the given equation or finding roots when both are equal and there's another variable k, one must find out the solution. Another type of question asked is where they give a quadratic equation and ask you to find out the value of an expression which is written in terms of the roots.

• Arithmetic progression

Belonging to progressions (AP, GP, HP), arithmetic progression is a sequence of numbers in which the numbers differ from the preceding one by some constant quantity. In this type of equation, some information is provided about first term, last term, x term or sum, and one must find out the yth term.

• Triangles, circles, constructions, areas related to circles

These kind of problems provide a figure where some information is provided either about the angles, congruency, similarity, etc and may ask for cross product, angle of unknown intersection, etc.

• Coordinate Geometry

Coordinate geometry is the branch of geometry which is also called the cartesian geometry. Different shapes like parallelograms, squares, rectangles or even trapeziums are present which are taken in some order which can be visualized if draw on paper. The question asks one to find the missing value or ratios.

• Introduction to trigonometry, some applications of trigonometry

Trigonometry handles specific functions of angles and their applications. There's wide variety of possible problems that use a load of equations but a few tips that can help you to get better at trigonometry is to begin with the complex side of the equation. To make things easier, try to convert the other terms (tan, cosec, cot, sec) in terms of sine and cosine. Try to combine terms into simpler forms and solve it step by step. But if this procedure is going to be way too time-taking, substitute values instead for the question and answer options. The one that matches is the answer.

• Surface areas and volumes, areas related to circles

Radius, diameter and a bunch of other information is provided from which a given task/value needs to be executed and find out the result.

• Statistics and Probability

Statistics deals with analyzing numerical data in large quantities and IMO asks questions on these often. Probability on the other hand is the extent to which an event may occur, it can be described in terms of ratio or percentage of the favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible. The questions asked in statistics are mostly based on mean, median and mode. For probability, a deck of card questions (ex: one card is drawn from a well-shuffled deck of cards, What is the probability that the card drawn is king) and drawing balls/ marbles are asked often.

Solve previous year papers, the workbooks and good luck for your next IMO.

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