Student competitions sponsored by the MCS Department.
Contact:
Bruce Pell (bpell@ltu)
Ruth Favro (rfavro@ltu.edu)
Fall Semester Contests
Michigan Autumn Take Home Challenge (MATH Challenge)
Student Registration: October 28, 2020
Date: November 7, 2020
9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Teams of two or three students have three hours to solve 10 math problems with proof, covering different parts of the undergraduate math curriculum. Originating in Michigan, it is aimed at students from small colleges. It is based on the LMMC (see below), but taken on teams’ home campus, so no travel is required.
- 2017: Eight teams, 22 students
- Top team in 4th place out of 73 teams
- 2018: Seven teams, 19 students
- Top team in 14th place out of 64 teams
- 2019: Five teams, 15 students
- Top team in 14th place out of 54 teams
Student Registration: October 23
Date: October 23–November 14, 2020
Teams of 2-3 students have a week to model and solve a problem involving differential equations. At the end of the week, the team gives a presentation of their results to faculty judges. Before the presentation, the team must consider an extension of their problem to add to their results.
- 2018: Four teams, 11 students
- 2019: One team, 3 students (second team dropped out at the last minute)
Postponed until February 20, 2021
A prestigious math contest for students in the U.S. and Canada, consisting of 12 questions: six questions over three hours in the morning, and six questions over three hours in the afternoon. The questions range over the undergraduate curriculum, often emphasizing the upper level. Clear proof is expected. More than 4,000 students currently take the exam. Median score often 0–2.
- 2017: 13 students competed
- 2018: Six students competed
- 2019: Four students competed; two with nonzero scores
Spring Semester Contests
MCM (Mathematical Contest in Modeling) and ICM (Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling)
Date: February 17-21, 2022
A four-day international contest for teams of 2-3 students each, held in late January or early February. Teams choose one of six problem types: continuous math, discrete math, data science (MCM) or operations research/networks, environmental science, public policy (ICM). Teams have four days to research and create a model, find solutions, and write a research paper, according to a set format. Clear and concise technical writing is important. Problems are often very current, such as developing a plan to significantly reduce, if not eliminate, single-use and disposable plastic product waste, or examining the future power requirements of electric devices and cars. Papers are judged in these categories: Successful Participant, Honorable Mention, Meritorious, Finalist and Outstanding.
In 2001, an LTU team was rated Outstanding and many teams are rated Meritorious or Finalist.- 2016: Three teams, nine students
- One student entered in the Media Contest
- 1-Outstanding, 1-Honorable Mention, 1-Successful Participant
- Media contest – Finalist
- 2017: Four teams, 12 students
- 1-Honorable Mention, 3-Successful Participant
- 2018: Four teams, 11 students
- 4- Successful Participant
- 2019: Four teams, 12 students
- 1-Honorable Mention, 3-Successful Participant
- 2020: Two teams, six students (one team dropped out mid-contest)
- 2-Succesful Participant
Lower Michigan Math Competition (LMMC)
Date: Mid-April
Teams of 2 or 3 students have three hours to solve 10 math problems with proof, covering different parts of the undergraduate math curriculum. It is open to students from Michigan small colleges. All teams meet at a host institution. Old problems, solutions, and other information can be found here.
- 2017: Two teams, five students
- Top team in 2nd place out of 24 teams
- 2018: Two teams, six students
- Top team in 2nd place out of 26 teams
- 2019: Two teams, six students
- Top team in 1st place as high scorer out of 21 teams!!
- 2020: Held online due to Covid-19
- Two teams, six students
- Top team in 3rd place out of eight teams