Introduction to the MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge
A team of students from St. John’s School in Houston has made it to the finals of the prestigious MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge (M3 Challenge), a renowned international math competition. The team’s innovative solution to the pressing issues of extreme heat and power grid failures earned them a spot among the nine finalist teams.
The Competition and the Team’s Achievement
In early March, the students—Anik Banerji, David Qian, John Vu, Brandon Wu, and Helen Yang—dedicated 14 hours to the online competition, which attracted over 3,600 high school students from the U.S. and U.K. Their submission was recognized as one of the best solutions addressing real-world challenges that local and national governments are currently tackling. The M3 Challenge, now in its 20th year, is organized by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) and sponsored by MathWorks, aiming to show the problem-solving tool and encourage students to pursue careers in applied math, computational and data sciences, and technical computing.
The Challenge and Its Objectives
The competition requires students to use mathematical modeling to answer critical questions, such as predicting indoor temperatures in non-air-conditioned urban dwellings during heat waves and assessing the power grid’s capacity during peak summer months. The finalists will present their findings to a panel of professional mathematicians in New York City on April 28. Over 794 teams submitted papers detailing their recommendations, and only the winning teams will share $100,000 in scholarships, with the champion team receiving $20,000.
The Road to the Finals
The team’s journey to the finals is a testament to their dedication and hard work. By advancing to the finals, they have demonstrated their ability to think critically and come up with innovative solutions to real-world problems. The M3 Challenge provides a platform for students to showcase their mathematical modeling skills and learn from the experience.
Conclusion
The MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge is a great opportunity for high school students to develop their problem-solving skills and pursue careers in math and science. The team from St. John’s School in Houston has made a significant achievement by advancing to the finals, and their success will undoubtedly inspire others to participate in the competition. As the finalists prepare to present their findings, they are one step closer to winning the top prize and taking home the championship title.
