24 -- The number of hours in a day, an action-packed TV series, a math game?!? On Saturday, April 21, 2012, over 100 fourth, fifth, and sixth graders from all six elementary schools and both middle schools competed with lightening fast speed to mentally compute “24.” The competition, which took place at Mountain View Middle School, was the 7th annual tournament. Many students wore their school colors and all participants received a “24” wristband to show their competitive spirit!

Forty high school students and a few math-savvy adults acted as Equation Officers to lay down the competition cards and listen to the younger students solve the equations. Middle school math teachers kept track of the progress of the event. All students participated in three rounds that lasted ten minutes each. The top scoring students then competed in the quarterfinals, then half of these advanced to the semifinals. The final table had the top four students at each grade level competing for a trophy! The last three rounds were made more difficult because the target number in the center of the card was no longer 24, but some number between 0 and 48.

Sixth grade students had the additional challenge of using the double digit numbers on their cards. Trophies were awarded for each grade level. The following students were finalists:

4th Grade

• 1st place -- Hunter Melahn (Ewing Young)
• 2nd place -- Jacob Smith (Crater)
• 3rd place -- Brogan Sattler (Ewing Young)
• 4th place -- Simon Luedtke (Joan Austin)

5th Grade

• 1st place -- Caleb Muthiah (Mabel Rush)
• 2nd place -- Sage Taylor (Crater)
• 3rd place -- Trey Fincher (Crater)
• 4th place -- Nick Petrie (Ewing Young)

6th Grade

• 1st place -- Jaydon Hills, CV
• 2nd place -- Adrienne Nicholson, CV 
• 3rd place -- Eddie Malapit, CV
• 4th place -- Danielle Bosse