Hoffman Estates student ranks first at international math tournament

A high school junior from Hoffman Estates recently took first place at a Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament. James Tao, a student at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, competed against 1,000 other top high school mathematics students in the nation and China. The students competed in three individual events — algebra, combinatorics and geometry — and in two team events. Tao placed first overall individually. The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy team placed 15th overall in the team category.