Thank you for your interest and participation for AY2024-25.
We will be back with the September 2025 problem!
Have a wonderful Summer!
- Any method, analytical or numerical, can be used, including but not limited to algebra, geometry, calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, probability, statistics, computer simulations, experiment, etc.
- All solutions need to include detailed reasoning and explanations.
- Partial solutions are welcome!
- A well-documented failed approach with a clear explanation of why the method does not work will be valued as much as a complete solution!
- Send in what you have accomplished to
https://ucmerced.app.box.com/f/f4fa04bdea3f4fa38606a2a3e93f25ef
by Thursday, May 1. - Any undergraduate students who submitted top and/or creative solutions will be recognized on the Applied Mathematics Department website. They will be entered into a drawing for an Amazon gift card of $50 and an Applied Math Department mug.
- All undergraduate students who have submitted solutions and attend the problem-solving session will be entered into a second drawing for another Amazon gift card of $25.
- On Friday, May 2 (ACS 362B, 4:00-5:00pm), we have a problem-solving session, where noteworthy solutions will be presented and the lucky winners will be decided.
- Please contact Prof. Changho Kim (ckim103@ucmerced.edu), Prof. Lei Yue (ylei2@ucmerced.edu) and/or Prof. Rosemarie Bongers (rosemariebongers@ucmerced.edu) if you have questions.
problem_of_the_month_apr_02025.pdf
| Month | Winner of $50/$25 Amazon Gift Cards and Departmental SWAG |
Submitters of Noteworthy Solutions |
| Apr 2025 | William Duenckel, Siyang Dong, Duncan McDonald | Siyang Dong, William Duenckel, Duncan McDonald, Narayan Muppagowni (undergraduate students) Joseph Simpson (graduate student) Ionut-Zaharia Chirila (external participant) |
| Mar 2025 | Jerald Achigbu, Adi Kisieu, William Duenckel | Jerald Achigbu, Siyang Dong, Adi Kisieu, Rudra Mukherjee, Narayan Muppagowni, Zicheng Wang (undergraduate students) Joseph Simpson (graduate student) Davoud Masoumi (math instructor) Merdangeldi Bayramov, Ionut-Zaharia Chirila (external participant) |
| Feb 2025 | Caleb Elazier, Duncan McDonald, Lawson Lasch | Caleb Elazier, Duncan McDonald, Narayan Muppagowni, Tiep Nguyen, Zicheng Wang (undergraduate students) Ionut-Zaharia Chirila (external participant) Joseph Simpson (graduate student) |
| Nov 2024 | Akhil Devarasetty, Duncan McDonald, Caleb Elazier | Akhil Devarasetty, Caleb Elazier, Duncan McDonald, Narayan Muppagowni, Quang Pham (undergraduate students) Ionut-Zaharia Chirila, Oyebajo Oluwaseyi (external participants) Joseph Simpson (graduate student) |
| Oct 2024 | Duncan McDonald, Caleb Elazier | Caleb Elazier, Duncan McDonald, Narayan Muppagowni (undergraduate students) Joseph Simpson (graduate student) |
| Sep 2024 | Shyam Gupta, Narayan Muppagowni, Christopher Yang |
Bolce Bussiere, Joshua Michael Cline, Akhil Devarasetty, Caleb Elazier, Aditya Ghosh, Emilie Hughes, Shrivaikunth Krishnakuma, Maya Levato, Duncan McDonald, Sathya McKinzie, Narayan Muppagowni, Nahyan Noor, Patrick Park, Quang Pham, Omar Safi, Kalyani Binu Sindhu, Brian Su, Mario Velez, Chistopher Yang, Marian Zuniga (undergraduate students) Ionut-Zaharia Chirila, Atakan Erdem (eternal participants) Joseph Simpson, Pablo Curiel (graduate students) Davoud Masoumi (lecturer) |
Previous problems
Academic Year 2023-2024
| Month | Winner of $50 Amazon Gift Card and Department Glass |
Submitters of Noteworthy Solutions |
| Apr 2024 | None | None ** To students: we want to see your own solutions not a summary of what you find in the internet ** |
| Mar 2024 | Xander Mui Nathan Han Paul Stratton |
Pierceton Charles, Nathan Han, Xander Mui, Ronald Nap, Paul Stratton (undergraduate) Yu Lu, Davoud Masoumi, Joseph Simpson (graduate student) Ionut-Zaharia Chirila (external participant) |
| Feb 2024 | Leonardo Gil Rojo and Ronald Nap |
Leonardo Gil Rojo, Ronald Nap, Narayan Muppagowni (undergraduate) Davoud Masoumi, Shashwat Sharan, Joseph Simpson (graduate student) Ionut-Zaharia Chirila (external participant) |
| Nov 2023 | Leonardo Gil Rojo and Ronald Nap |
Leonardo Gil Rojo, JunZheng Lyu, Ronald Nap (undergraduate) Yacoub Innabi, Joseph Simpson (graduate student) |
| Oct 2023 | Jacob Bates Leonardo Gil Rojo |
Jacob Bates, Leonardo Gil Rojo (undergraduate) Daniel Perez-Zoghbi (graduated) Joseph Simpson (graduate student) |
| Sep 2023 | JunZheng Lyu Kento Bushey |
Jacob Bates, Kento Bushey, Maxwell Dong, James Fong, Isaac Lee, JunZheng Lyu, Xander Mui, Eric Wang (undergraduate) Davoud Masoumi, Shashwat Sharan, Joseph Simpson (graduate student) Mümtaz Ulaş Keskin (external participant) |
Academic Year 2022-2023
| Month | Winner of $50 Amazon Gift Card and Department Glass |
Submitters of Noteworthy Solutions |
| Apr 2023 | Kento Bushey, Ryan Milstrey | Kento Bushey, Ryan Milstrey (undergraduate), Joseph Simpson (graduate student) |
| Mar 2023 | Ryan Milstrey, Luis Fujarte | Asriel Camora, Luis Fujarte, Ryan Milstrey (undergraduate) |
| Feb 2023 | Adi Kisieu, Luis Fujarte | Luis Fujarte, Adi Kisieu, Jack McGuinness, Ryan Milstrey (undergraduate) Joseph Simpson (graduate student) |
| Nov 2022 | Cheyenenn Bennarie, Garret Castro | Cheyenne Bennmarie, Kento Bushey, Garret Castro, Luis Fujarte + Ryan Milstrey, Jack McGuinness, Ronald Nap (undergraduate) Shashwat Sharan, Joseph Simpson (graduate student) |
| Oct 2022 | Jack McGuinness, Kento Bushey | Kento Bushey, Jack McGuinness, Patrick Park (undergraduate) Tucker Hartland, Shashwat Sharan, Joseph Simpson (graduate student) |
| Sep 2022 | Patrick Park, Tony Liu | Tony Liu, Rohan Makkar, Jack McGuinness, Patrick Park, Jason Petersen (undergraduate) Shashwat Sharan (graduate student) |
Academic Year 2021-2022
| Month | Winner of $50 Amazon Gift Card |
Submitters of Noteworthy Solutions |
| Apr 2022 | Nathan Simons | Sydney Cripe, Salaheldin Hegab, Ryan Milstrey, Daniel Perez-Zoghbi, Nathan Simons, Tianfei Zhang (undergraduate) |
| Mar 2022 | Salaheldin Hegab | Salaheldin Hegab, David Hernandez, Arnold Khampaseut, Andrew Lin, Ryan Milstrey, Daniel Perez-Zoghbi, Kaixuan Zhang (undergraduate) Valentin Dallent (graduate student) |
| Feb 2022 | Andrew Lin | Fernando Espinoza-Ortiz, Salaheldin Hegab, Andrew Lin, Ryan Milstrey, Kaixuan Zhang (undergraduate) photo of the winners of Applied Math department mugs |
| Nov/Dec 2021 | Salaheldin Hegab | Salaheldin Hegab (undergraduate) |
| Oct/Nov 2021 | Sabrina Ponce | Sabrina Ponce (undergraduate) Valentin Dallerit (graduate students) |
| Sep/Oct 2021 | Edward Lu | Salaheldin Hegab, Edward Lu, Ryan Milstrey (undergraduate) Valentin Dallerit, Tucker Hartland (graduate students) |
