What are the resources for Olympiad mathematics?

Preparing for Mathematics Olympiads (like IMO, RMO, INMO, or SOF Math Olympiad) requires more than just school-level math textbooks. Olympiad questions are designed to test problem-solving ability, logical reasoning, and creativity in mathematics. For effective preparation, students should use a mix of books, online platforms, and practice papers.

1. Standard Textbooks (Foundation)

• NCERT Mathematics (Classes 6–12): Strong basics are essential. NCERT books cover fundamental concepts clearly.
• R.D. Sharma / R.S. Aggarwal: Good for practicing school-level and slightly advanced problems.
• NCERT Exemplar Problems: Contains challenging problems that align with Olympiad-style thinking.

2. Olympiad-Specific Books

• Challenges and Thrills of Pre-College Mathematics by Venkatachala (excellent for INMO and higher-level prep).
• Mathematical Circles by Fomin, Genkin, and Itenberg (encourages creative problem solving).
• Problem-Solving Strategies by Arthur Engel (a standard resource worldwide).
• An Excursion in Mathematics by Bhaskaracharya Pratishthana (popular for Indian Olympiad prep).

3. Previous Year Papers and Sample Papers

• Solving past papers of RMO, INMO, and IMO is crucial. They help understand the pattern, level of difficulty, and problem-solving approach.
• Many state Olympiad websites and SOF (Science Olympiad Foundation) provide free sample papers.

4. Online Resources

• Art of Problem Solving (AoPS): A global community with discussion forums, problem sets, and Olympiad-level books.
• Brilliant.org: Offers interactive problem-solving courses in mathematics.
• Olympiad geometry and number theory handouts: Shared by previous INMO/IMO toppers, available on educational forums.
• HBCSE (TIFR Mumbai) website: For official resources, past papers, and training material related to Indian Olympiads.

5. Coaching and Mentorship

• Institutions like HBCSE, FIITJEE, Allen, and specialized math circles conduct Olympiad training camps.
• Peer study groups and mentorship from teachers or seniors can help solve tough problems.

Tips for Students:

1. Start with NCERT + Exemplar to build fundamentals.
2. Move to Olympiad books for advanced problem-solving.
3. Practice one problem daily from higher-level books or past papers.
4. Join online forums like AoPS to discuss tricky questions.
5. Focus equally on algebra, geometry, number theory, and combinatorics—the four pillars of Olympiad math.

The best resources for Olympiad mathematics are a mix of strong basics, specialized books, past papers, and online communities. Regular practice and curiosity-driven learning are the keys to success.