In Math Modeling, we learn to think critically about real world problems and create mathematical models to analyze and solve them. Throughout these projects, we focus on going beyond the apparent and uncovering deeper patterns. We started the year looking at the math behind the "perfect shuffle" and understanding modular arithmetic and bases. Then, we moved on to learning statistical techniques and algebraic concepts. In the future, some of us will be going on to learn calculus. We work on various projects throughout the year, focusing on different aspects of mathematical modeling, data analysis, and problem-solving techniques.
This is an example Problem of the Week. Here, we were tasked with creating a math model that determined what day of the week someone was born on. This model takes in the month, day, and year someone was born on and outputs the day of the week as a number 0-6. This number is then converted to a day of the week through the table provided in the document. The model works for years after 1900 and does account for leap years. Our project proposal is shown below or available here.
For the Modeling the Future Challenge, we needed to find a real world problem and make recommendations based on a mathematical model. For our project, we decided to look at the costs of opioid addiction on communities and health insurance. We plan to create a model that will allow us to understand what methods will diminish the risks of financial loss and improve outcomes for everyone. The proposal is available below or here.