The American Math Challenge Starts Today! Over 4,500 Schools Registered to Compete Online in Real Time

NEW YORK, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- With hundreds of thousands of students registered and their math skills warmed up, today is the first official day of the American Math Challenge!

The Challenge, which goes until November 16, has middle school students nationwide, ages 9-14, competing online against other American students of similar age and ability in real time, 60-second mental arithmetic games.

The student with the highest score will be declared American Math Champion and receive a Minted Gold Medal. Up to three top students will be chosen to represent the United States as Team Ambassadors on World Math Day, in March 2010.

The American Math Challenge is hosted by The MATHCOUNTS Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes middle school mathematics achievement, and powered by Mathletics, the learning platform from 3P Learning, the global leader in online mathematics education.

Best-selling author and Guinness World Record Holder as the "Fastest Human Calculator" Scott Flansburg is Ambassador for the American Math Challenge. Flansburg earned his title for his ability to process numbers with amazing speed and calculator accuracy. He can add, subtract, multiply, divide - and even do square and cube roots - all in his head.

Now, "The Human Calculator®" (a nickname given to him by television host Regis Philbin) is using his extraordinary gift to inspire students, teachers and "non-math" people, demonstrating that arithmetic really can be as easy as "0, 1, 2, 3."

"Students compete in a multi-player game environment, inclusive of all levels of math ability, making math exciting," Flansburg notes. "Results show that participants will make significant improvement in their mental arithmetic skills and have fun in the process."

Flansburg gives presentations around the country to increase student and teacher awareness of numeracy and The American Math Challenge. Last Friday he spoke at The Sidwell Friends School in Washington DC., where President Obama's daughters attend. Flansburg received standing ovations for displaying the talent that earned him a Guinness World Record. Sidwell Friends School students will be participating in the American Math Challenge.