What is it about?
Math Modeling is a class that significantly differs from a standard math course. It combines various applications of mathematics, such as number theory, geometric algebra, statistics, and calculus. The class incorporates challenging math problems, even when dealing with seemingly simple concepts. Math Modeling emphasizes collaborative group work while also encouraging students to develop independent problem-solving techniques. A major focus of the class is creating mathematical models, which are used to identify and address potential risks in real-world scenarios. To develop these models, we analyze large datasets. Additionally, we participate in various math competitions, such as NEML, MTFC, and HiMCM. This class has helped me develop my mathematical understanding that has enabled me to independently tackle complex problems with confidence.
Modeling the Future Challenge
The Modeling the Future Challenge (MTFC) is a math modeling competition where teams of five work together to develop a model on a topic of their choice. The goal of the challenge is to make recommendations for society regarding the chosen topic, which typically addresses a contemporary issue. For our project, we chose to identify and mitigate the risks of nationwide school shootings. Our objective was to determine when an individual's mental health crosses a certain threshold, potentially predicting a future attack. This project was both engaging and rewarding, as it emphasized teamwork and collaboration among our group of five. Participating in this competition taught me valuable skills in developing mathematical models and analyzing data, helping me grow both as a team member and as an independent problem-solver.
Roller Coaster Practice HiMCM
As mentioned earlier, we participated in the High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling (HiMCM). This competition is similar to MTFC, but it requires teams to choose one of two contemporary issues and use a math model to identify and mitigate the associated risks. This project, however, was a practice activity designed to prepare us for the actual competition. For our practice topic, we focused on roller coasters. Instead of addressing a contemporary issue, our task was to rank the top 10 roller coasters in the world by creating a math model. We were provided with a dataset containing information about numerous roller coasters. Our group developed and weighted various factors that contributed to the enjoyment of a roller coaster. By combining these weighted scores, we determined which roller coasters would rank in the top ten. This project was both fun and engaging, especially because working with a team on a topic like roller coasters made it even more exciting. Additionally, this practice activity significantly helped us prepare for the HiMCM competition.