July/August 2017

NSPE Today
Math Test

THE QUAD SQUAD TEAM, FROM THE RON CLARK ACADEMY IN GEORGIA, TOOK FIRST PLACE IN THE MATH VIDEO CHALLENGE. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: KEATON TSEPAS BUCCIERO, JALELAH JOHNSON, MATHCOUNTS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LOU DIGIOIA, SYDNEY DINKINS, AND KAMYAH HUGEE.

Question: In a bar, 100 chicks sit peacefully in a circle. Suddenly, each chick randomly pecks the chick immediately to its left or right. What is the expected number of un-pecked chicks?

If it took you longer than 0.9 seconds to answer, you’re not in the same league with Texas seventh-grader Luke Robitaille. But a lot of people aren’t.

By answering this question, Robitaille won the 2017 Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition held May 15. Answer: 25.

SEVENTH GRADER LUKE ROBITAILLE OF EULESS, TEXAS, REALIZES HE JUST WON THE 2017 RAYTHEON MATHCOUNTS NATIONAL COMPETITION.