The Mathematical Olympiad problems covering the USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO) and the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), have been published annually by The Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions since 1976. They are presented now for the first time in book form.

The IMO is the world mathematics championship for high school students that takes place annually in a different country. The aims of the IMO are: to discover, encourage and challenge mathematically gifted young people in all countries; to foster friendships between mathematicians around the world; and to create an opportunity for the exchange of information on school syllabi and practice throughout the world.

The USAMO and the Team Selection Test (TST) are the last two stages of the selection process leading to the identification of the USA team in the International Mathematical Olympiad. The preceding examinations are the AMC 10 or AMC 12 and the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME). Participation in the AIME, USAMO, and the TST is by invitation only, based on performance in the preceding exams of the sequence.

Through the AMC contests and the IMO, young gifted mathematicians are identified and recognized while they are still in secondary school. Participation in these competitions provides them with the chance to measure themselves against other exceptional students from all over the world.

The editors present their own carefully written solutions to the problems and provide remarkable solutions developed by the examination committees, contestants, and experts, during or after the contests. They also provide a detailed report of the 1995-2000 USAMO/IMO results and a comprehensive guide to other materials emphasizing advanced problem-solving. This collection of excellent problems and beautiful solutions is a valuable companion for students who wish to develop their interest in mathematics outside the school curriculum and to deepen their knowledge of mathematics.