Each year, the Xavier Mu Alpha Theta math honor society competes in the American Math Competition (AMC). This year, sophomore Lai Wei was a part of this competition and scored a nearly-perfect score.
Based on her top score, she was a part of 1% of students to move on to the next round. This is an accomplishment that no other Xavier student has been able to achieve in over 20 years.
Astounded by her accomplishment, Lai Wei ’27 stated, “When I heard my grade for AMC 10, I was excited because it’s over my expectation. Maybe I was a little lucky, but I know I will get a higher score from last year because I did a lot of practice.”
Growing up in China, she had a strong foundation in math as she took Algebra 1 in fifth grade. She challenged herself her freshman year, taking Precalculus, a course mostly taken by Xavier upperclasswomen.
Currently, Wei is taking AP Calculus BC, while most sophomores across the nation take geometry. During her junior year she will take Multivariable Calculus and her senior year she will take AP Statistics.
Moderator of the Mu Alpha Theta Society, Adrienne Hestenes stated, “It is really difficult to get even half of the questions right on the AMC.”
Should she move on in the competition, there are potential scholarships available.
Being so far advanced in math is difficult, let alone winning an award being in the top percent of students taking part in a national competition.
