The Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM) is a multi-day mathematics competition held annually in USA, during the first or second weekend in February, since 1985 by COMAP and sponsored by SIAM, the NSA, and INFORMS. It is distinguished from other major mathematical competitions such as Putnam by its strong focus on research, originality, teamwork, communication and justification of results. It runs concurrently with the Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling (ICM).
At the beginning of the contest, teams have a choice between two problems. Problem A involves a system that requires the use of continuous mathematics, and thus often involves concepts from geometry, physics, or engineering. Problem B involves a system that requires the use of discrete mathematics. In 2016, a "data insights" problem was added, where teams are given access to database files and tasked with using them to answer a question. This problem was designated as Problem C, though previously, Problem C referred to an ICM problem. These problems tend to be open-ended, and are drawn from all fields of science, business, and public policy. Past problems include
Estimate the global effects of a large asteroid impacting Antarctica (1999 A)Study the hunting strategies of velociraptor dinosaurs based on fossil data (1997 A)Develop a more efficient method of boarding passengers onto large commercial jets (2007 B)Teams have 96 hours to research and submit their solutions in the form of a research paper. During this time, they may consult any available references, but may not discuss their problem with anyone outside their teams. Several guides containing advice and recommendations for teams and/or advisors have been published online or in print.
Participation and Awards
Thousands of international teams of three undergraduates compete to produce original mathematical papers in response to one of two modeling problems. Initially, participation was largely from the United States, however in recent years international participation has grown significantly, particularly from the People's Republic of China, so that in 2007 teams from the United States comprised only 24% of total participation. In 2014, the percentage of teams from the People's Republic of China reached a record high of 92.9%.
After the competition, all papers are judged and placed into the following categories:
Unsuccessful ParticipantSuccessful Participant (approximately 40% of teams)Honorable Mention (approximately 25% of teams)Meritorious Winner (usually 10 to 15% of teams)Finalist (approximately 1% of teams)Outstanding Winner (less than .5% of teams)Until 2009, Outstanding Winner papers were published in The UMAP Journal.
7636 teams participatedProblem A Outstanding WinnersNorthwestern Polytechnical University, ChinaState University of New York, University at Buffalo, NY — MAA Prize RecipientChongqing University, China — SIAM Prize RecipientCentral South University, China — Ben Fusaro AwardUniversity of Adelaide, Australia — INFORMS Prize RecipientProblem B Outstanding WinnersUniversity of Colorado Boulder, CO — SIAM Prize Recipient & Two Sigma Scholarship AwardBethel University, MN — MAA Prize Recipient & Frank Giordano AwardUniversity of Colorado Boulder, COColorado College, CO — INFORMS Prize RecipientTsinghua University, China6755 teams participatedProblem A Outstanding WinnersShanghai Jiaotong University, ChinaTsinghua University, China — INFORMS & Ben Fusaro AwardNanjing University, ChinaZhejiang University, China— SIAM Prize RecipientBeijing Normal University, ChinaTufts University, MA — MAA Prize RecipientProblem B Outstanding WinnersChongqing University, ChinaUniversity of International Business and Economics, ChinaSoutheast University, ChinaHuazhong University of Science and Technology, China — Frank Giordano AwardSouthwest University for Nationalities, China — SIAM Prize RecipientCollege of Information Science and Engineering; Northeastern University, ChinaNC School of Science and Mathematics, NC — INFORMS & MAA Prize Recipient5636 teams participatedProblem A Outstanding WinnersBethel University, MN — MAA Prize RecipientFudan University, ChinaPeking University, ChinaShandong University, China — INFORMS Prize RecipientShanghai Jiaotong University, ChinaUniversity of Colorado Boulder, CO — SIAM Prize RecipientTongji University, China — Ben Fusaro Award (Finalist)Problem B Outstanding WinnersBeijing Univ. of Posts and Telecomm, ChinaColorado College, CO — Frank Giordano AwardNanjing University, China — INFORMS Prize RecipientTsinghua University, China — SIAM Prize RecipientUniversity of Colorado Boulder, CO — MAA Prize Recipient3697 teams participatedProblem A Outstanding WinnersHong Kong Baptist University, Hong KongNational University of Singapore, Singapore — Ben Fusaro AwardShanghai Foreign Language School, China — INFORMS Prize RecipientZhejiang University, China — SIAM Prize RecipientCornell University, NY — MAA Prize Recipient (Finalist)Problem B Outstanding WinnersBethel University, MNPeking University, ChinaUniversity of Colorado, CO — MAA Prize RecipientUniversity of Colorado, CO — INFORMS Prize RecipientUniversity of Louisville, KY — SIAM Prize RecipientWestern Washington University, WA — Frank Giordano Award2775 teams participatedProblem A Outstanding WinnersEastern Oregon University, OR — MAA Prize RecipientPeking University, ChinaTsinghua University, China —SIAM Prize RecipientUniversity of Western Ontario, Canada — INFORMS Prize Recipient & Ben Fusaro AwardProblem B Outstanding WinnersHarvey Mudd College, CA — SIAM Prize RecipientRensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NYUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology, China — INFORMS Prize Recipient & Ben Fusaro AwardVirginia Tech, VA — MAA Prize Recipient