CSE Student News: Sign up now for the William Lowell Putnam Mathematics Competition on Saturday, Dec. 7

Friday, October 18, 2024

Sign up now for the William Lowell Putnam Mathematics Competition on Saturday, Dec. 7

The Mathematical Association of America (MAA) will host the 84th William Lowell Putnam Mathematics Competition on Saturday, Dec. 7 in two, three-hour sessions from 9 a.m.-noon and 2-5 p.m. in Vincent Hall. The Putnam Competition is known as the preeminent mathematics competition for undergraduate college students in the world. Competition practice sessions start Tuesday, Oct. 15.
Enter the Putnam math competition

The Mathematical Association of America (MAA) will host the 84th William Lowell Putnam Mathematics Competition on Saturday, Dec. 7 in two three-hour sessions from 9 a.m.-noon and 2-5 p.m. in Vincent Hall. 

Known as the preeminent mathematics competition for undergraduate college students in the U.S. and Canada, the Putnam Competition has become the leading university-level mathematics examination in the world.

William Lowell Putnam Mathematics Competition
Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024
9 a.m.-5 p.m., with a two-hour break for lunch at noon
Vincent Hall, Room 16
Register for the Putnam Mathematics Competition

For each of the 12 problems, participants will hand-write their work on plain 8.5x11 sheets of unlined paper. All work to justify a solution and all necessary steps of proof should be submitted. When working on one problem, participants should not refer to work on a different problem. Writing utensils, blank paper, and erasers are permitted, but other materials, such as books, calculators, computers, rulers, compasses, lined paper, or graph paper, are not allowed.

Participants must also pledge not to post or discuss the exam questions online or otherwise before 7 p.m. (8 p.m. EST), which is the end of the exam on the West Coast that day.

Participants must be current University of Minnesota undergraduate students (visiting students are allowed); must not have a bachelor’s degree, its equivalent, or higher; and have not already participated in four of the previous competitions.

Full schedule of practice sessions:
  • Thursday, Oct. 24, 4:30-6 p.m.
  • Thursday, Oct. 31, 4:30-6 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Nov. 5, 4:15-5:50 p.m.
  • Thursday, Nov. 14, 4:30-6 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Nov. 19, 4:15-5:50 p.m.
  • Thursday, Dec. 5,  4:30-6 p.m.
To register for the exam or practice sessions, please complete the Putnam Exam and Problem-Solving Club Interest Form.

For more information about the competition, registration, and competition problems and solutions from previous years, visit the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition webpage.

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School of Mathematics
612-625-2004