King Students Excel in Dual Mathematics Competitions
King upper school students demonstrated their mathematical prowess and determination this week as they participated in back-to-back competitions, the American Mathematics Competition (AMC 10/12) and the Fairfield County Math League (FCML) on Wednesday, November 5. More than simply ranking on a leaderboard, the competition environment helps students build their confidence in complex mathematics.
“I love the feeling I get after completing a particularly challenging problem,” said Lilah Mehta ’27. “I think that participating in FCML and the AMC is a great way, in general, to sharpen math skills while also allowing for exposure to different types of problems.”
The AMC 10/12, a 75-minute national contest administered annually, began at 8 a.m., challenging students to apply advanced reasoning and creativity under timed conditions. Later in the day, students competed in the FCML, a local event that King has participated in for 27 consecutive years. The county contest consists of six matches throughout the year, with the possibility of advancing to the state competition in March.
Participation in the events reflects the Math department’s ongoing commitment to rigor and collaboration in learning.
“These competitions are an exciting part of our program,” said Chair of the Mathematics Department Dr. Victoria Khiznichenko, affectionately called Dr. K. “We meet each Monday to prepare, students solve past years’ problems, share strategies, and enjoy donuts together. It’s both productive and fun.”
Preparation for these events is deeply integrated into King’s math curriculum. Students sharpen their skills in courses such as Honors Precalculus, Advanced Problem Solving, Algebra, Number Theory, and Probability (ANTAP). Through these classes and weekly Math Team meetings, they learn to tackle complex problems.
“These meetings improve problem-solving skills and help them form genuine friendships with common interests and goals,” said Dr. K.
This collaborative approach is key, according to Bruno Reinhoefer Ribeiro '26, who said the teamwork during the FCML allows for levity, which helps alleviate pressure.
“Because these problems are designed to be harder than the individual rounds and there is less time, the stress is more built up,” he said. “However, communicating with my teammates eases that tension and clears my mind. In fact, in this competition, we kept cracking jokes with each other, and I solved my first team round problem in a few matches, so I felt good about myself.”
For Dr. K, the competitions represent much more than a test of skill; they reflect King’s broader philosophy of cultivating curiosity and confidence in mathematics.
“Preparation for the competitions is a big part of creating a positive environment,” she said. “Students discuss unusual problems, learn from each other, and are not afraid to be wrong. That’s when the best learning happens.