The 2023 Math Day will be on Tuesday, November 14

Math Day is a Washburn tradition dating back to 1969. On a Tuesday in November each year, high school students from all over northeast Kansas come to Washburn to compete in a 40-question competitive mathematics exam. Teachers accompanying the students have a discussion of current issues of importance to mathematics educators and/or participate in activities ready for the mathematics classroom. 

After lunch is served, students from each school work as a team to try to win the "Mathnificent Race". This competition, introduced at the 2013 Math Day, includes a scavenger hunt on the Washburn University campus for information required to solve a sequence of problems as quickly as possible. The first team to finish wins a plaque, but every team that completes all of the problems correctly wins a small prize.

In the afternoon, there is an awards ceremony honoring the students’ achievements. The top three individual scorers in the senior and non-senior categories all receive medals, and the top three scorers from each school receive ribbons. Plaques are awarded to top teams and to the top overall scorer. To add to the fun, there are also door-prize drawings for both the students and the teachers, with mathematically-oriented prizes.

Morning session prior to math day exam

  • Morning session prior to math day exam

Sponsor's session with Dr. Sharp and Dr. Charlwood

  • Sponsor's session with Dr. Sharp and Dr. Charlwood

Mathnificent Race organized by Dr. Porta and Dr. Shaw

  • Mathnificent Race organized by Dr. Porta and Dr. Shaw

Awarding plaque to top team in their classification

  • Awarding plaque to top team in their classification

Plaque awarded to top team in their classification

  • Plaque awarded to top team in their classification

Representative from team winning Mathnificent Race

  • Representative from team winning Mathnificent Race

Three non-senior top scorers receive gold, silver and bronze medals

  • Three non-senior top scorers receive gold, silver and bronze medals

Three top seniors receive medals

  • Three top seniors receive medals

Math Day Awards Ceremony

Previous Math Days

Three previous Math Day Exams are available:

            1999 Math Day Exam               Solutions

            2004 Math Day Exam               Solutions

            2009 Math Day Exam


Need More Information?

For more information on Math Day, contact Dr. Jennifer Wagner at 785.670.3224 or jennifer.wagner1@washburn.edu

GET IN TOUCH WITH Department of Mathematics & Statistics

Department of Mathematics & Statistics
Morgan Hall, Room 250
1700 SW College Ave.
Topeka, KS 66621

Phone & Email
Phone: 785.670.1491
math@washburn.edu

back to top button