The Mathematical Olympiad books, covering the
USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO) and the International Mathematical
Olympiad (IMO), have been published annually since 1976.
The IMO
is the work mathematics championship for high school students. It
takes place annually in a different country each year. The aims of the
IMO are (1) to discover, encourage and challenge mathematically gifted
young people in all countries; (2) to foster friendships between
mathematicians around the world; (3) to create an opportunity for the
exchange of information on school syllabi and practice throughout the
world.
Through the AMC contests and the IMO, young gifted
mathematicians are identified and recognized while they are still in
secondary school. Participation in the competitions provides them with
the chance to measure themselves against other exceptional students
from all over the world.
This work was prepared by Zuming Feng,
Melanie Matchett Wood, the Leader and Deputy Leader of the 2004 USA
IMO team, and by Cecil Rousseau, the chair of the USAMO Committee. In
addition to presenting their own carefully written solutions to the
problems, Zuming and Melanie provide remarkable solutions developed by
the examination committees, contestants, and experts, during or after
the contests. They also provide a detailed report of the 2000-2004
USAMO/IMO results and a comprehensive guide to other materials that
emphasize advanced problem-solving. This collection of excellent
problems and beautiful solutions is a valuable companion for students
who wish to develop their interest in mathematics outside the school
curriculum and to deepen their knowledge of mathematics.