IMNO Preparations
About INMO
Indian National Mathematical Olympiad (INMO) is the annual national olympiad conducted to gauge the mathematical skills of high school students from all over the country. It is stage 3 of the Mathematical Olympiad Program and is conducted on the third Sunday of January every year. Students who have qualified stage two i.e. the Regional Mathematical Olympiad (RMO) are eligible to appear for INMO. The exam is conducted by Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE).
INMO Syllabus
INMO syllabus tests the students on their awareness on the concepts of Integers, arithmetic, geometry, quadratic equations and expressions, trigonometry, coordinate geometry, systems of linear equations, factorization of polynomials, inequalities, elementary combinatorics, probability theory and number theory, finite series and complex numbers, and elementary graph theory from the pre-degree college mathematics curriculum. Calculus and statistics are not included in the INMO syllabus. Algebra, combinatorics, geometry, and number theory are some of the major areas one needs to be well versed in in order to perform well at INMO. As you move from PRMO to RMO to INMO to IMO, the challenge level rises.
How to prepare for INMO?
Develop mathematical thinking
Building your mathematical aptitude is vital if you want to perform well on the INMO. To do that, you must work to increase your analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and logical reasoning capacity. Additionally, you must gain a thorough comprehension of each of the concepts.
Previous year papers
Being able to answer questions from previous exams is essential for your Olympiad success. By doing so, you become more accustomed to the format of the question papers as well as the level of difficulty of the questions that are asked. You can pinpoint your skills and shortcomings and work on them by solving past years’ papers. Additionally, you should follow the rules and refine your methods while completing prior years’ papers because doing so can introduce you to powerful tactics and strategies that will be handy in the Olympiad. Working on the previous year’s question papers by following actual Olympiad time settings will help you immensely with your speed and accuracy.
Practice books
When preparing for INMO, you should read and practice from the books listed below, in addition to your textbooks. These books feature complex level questions and problems and are incredibly helpful for Olympiad hopefuls. Studying from books of this level will undoubtedly give you an advantage and familiarize you with questions requiring higher order thinking skills.
Best books for INMO
Trigonometry and Geometry
Along with a thorough understanding of similar triangles and cyclic quadrilaterals, a practical approach to fundamental trigonometry is essential. Plane Trigonometry by SL Loney is the best resource for this. Mathematical Circles (Russian experience) and The Challenge and Thrill of Pre-College Mathematics are some of the finest books on mathematics olympiad that can be highly beneficial for geometry.
Combinatorics
The Challenge and Thrill of Pre-College Mathematics and Combinatorics by S. Muralidharan (AIMER), in addition to a decent IIT JEE prep book, might be very helpful.
Functions
The most reliable source on functions is B.J. Venkatachala’s Functional Equations: A Problem Solving Approach.
Polynomials
The Challenge and Thrill of Pre-College Mathematics and Problem Solving Strategies by Arthur Engel is a great source to refer for your Polynomial preparations.
Number Theory
Topics on which one should extensively focus include fundamental integer divisibility, properties of prime numbers, basic properties and results on congruences and squares and cubes. The books that one should read include Mathematical Olympiad Challenges by Titu Andreescu and Răzvan Gelca as well as Elementary Number Theory by David M. Burton.
Olympiad: A game of perseverance
Olympiad preparation demands commitment, tenacity, and a calculated strategy. Keep in mind that Olympiads are not just about ranks or competition; they are also about promoting your intellectual development and a love for the subject. Enjoy the process, keep striving, and work towards becoming a better version of you. This can be only achieved with the help of a mentor who holds the key to unlocking your potential.
Having a good mentor who can impart Olympiad-specific training through tips and techniques that will help you take on the challenges of INMO with confidence is a huge advantage. And if you want to achieve INMO goals, Sri Chaitanya’s Early Champions Formula should be your go-to option.
