The Moody's Foundation SIAM
Moody's Mega Math Challenge
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The Problem Winning Solutions Judging

Sample Problems

The Moody's Mega Math Challenge problem is a open-ended, realistic, applied math modeling problem focused on a real-world issue. The purpose of the Moody's Mega Math Challenge, in addition to being a contest for the best, brightest and most creative minds, is to elevate high school students' enthusiasm and excitement about using mathematics to solve real-world problems and to increase students' interests in pursuing math-related studies and careers in college and beyond. Moody's and SIAM are interested in improving the pipeline of young people into studies and careers in applied mathematics, and encourage students to participate in this contest as an educational process.

Provided here are several examples of the type of problem you may be asked to solve on your M3 Challenge day.

It is highly recommended that participants read and work through some problems at each level before moving on.

Level 1:

This list is intended to give students a taste of some of the scenarios that may be presented as modeling problems in the M3 Challenge. This can be considered basic training material, designed to prompt targeted brainstorming.

List provided courtesy of William P. Fox, Department of Mathematics, Francis Marion University, Florence, SC.

Level 2: AIM Resource Books

Students:

Teachers:

These booklets detail modeling problems that remain relevant today, despite being somewhat dated in appearance. These examples also have considerable background data, which gives insight into the types of details that need to be considered when solving the Challenge problem. Remember that creativity and originality are highly valued characteristics of a winning solution—along with good quantitative and qualitative analysis.

Used with the permission of the Mathematical Association of America.

Level 3: HiMCM Problems

These are formal modeling problems and actual student solutions. High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling (HiMCM) competitions. These are top-tier examples in terms of their unique and coherent solutions to mathematical modeling problems. The solution papers for the M3 Challenge problem are not expected to have quite the polish, detail, or completeness as you will see here, since the HiMCM, which takes place over an entire weekend, permits the students to develop a much larger body of work.

HiMCM links are approved and content is hosted by the Consortium for Mathematics and its Applications (COMAP), which among other activities sponsors the HiMCM competition. You can find COMAP at www.comap.com. Go direct to http://www.mathmodels.org/ on the COMAP website to check out more useful sample math modeling problems, resources, other contests, and background information.

Level 4: M3 Challenge Archives Outstanding Solution Papers

M3 Challenge 2009 Problem [103K PDF]

Please note that the papers posted here are the solutions of the top six finishing teams in the 2008 M3 Challenge. The students completed these papers within the 14-hour time period allowed for the contest and were selected by the judges to receive an award.

Go to the M3 Challenge archive to see the 2006 problem [203K PDF], the 2007 problem [258K PDF], the 2008 problem [258K PDF], and solution papers.

Additional Resources

Teacher-Coach Guides