Math Exploration Day

19th Annual
Mathematical Exploration Day
Ithaca College
THURSDAY, March 27, 2025

(Note: We attempt to send email to notify area math teachers about this event. Some of you may get these emails. Unfortunately, spam filters at some schools are blocking our emails. Please spread the word about this event with your colleagues and don't assume they know about it.)

Each Spring, students come to Ithaca College from several area high schools to experience a day of mathematical fun, exploration, and discovery. Dozens of sophomores and juniors arrive early on campus for registration and a welcome from the Department of Mathematics. Students take part in a team mathematical competition. During this competition, the high school teachers enjoy a professional development presentation. Following the competition, students and teachers explore mathematical ideas in a variety of areas. Lunch follows with the announcement of the competition winners. It is a great event that the IC Math Department looks forward to every year.

Teachers who would like to bring students to the event should register themselves and their students by completing the registration form below. Additionally, we request all participants to complete a photo release form.  The photo release form is available at online at

https://ithacaedu.formstack.com/forms/photo_multimedia_release_form

Teachers should complete a photo release form for themselves, and we ask students’ parents or guardians to complete this form for their students.  

Registration closes on Monday, March 3, 2025.

Driving Directions

Interactive Campus Map- when you arrive on campus, please come to Phillips Hall  

Registration: We are working on a new online registration that should be available by Feb 1. The registration deadline this year will be March 3, 2025.

NOTE: 2025 Should be the same as last year's schedule, with some changes to the mini-sessions.

2024 Math Exploration Day Schedule

9:00    Registration (Clark and Klingenstein Lounges, Campus Center, Ithaca College)

9:30     Welcome and Workshop Orientation (Clark and Klingenstein Lounges)

9:50     Math Contest – team event (Emerson Suites)

9:50     Math Exploration (Klingenstein Lounge)
          Making the best decision: The Prisoner's Dilemma

9:50     Presentation for Teachers (Clark Lounge)
           Unlocking the Secrets of Babylonian Numbers and Arithmetic: Exploring Ancient Mathematics (overhead slides below)

11:00-12:00  Mini-Sessions Exploring Mathematics (Emerson Suites)

• Mathematical Origami
• The Last Cookie (A Game of Strategy and Numbers)
• Islamic Geometric Design
• Constructing Hypercube Models
• Hex and Y
• Knights and Knaves
• Aperiodic Tiling
• The "Hat" Tiles
• Hexaflexagons
• Mobius Strips
• Integrating your right and left brain by Building, Walking, Feeling and Understanding Labyrinths
• Light + Angles = Atomic structure
• Sorting and search
• Chomp
• Sim

12:00-12:45    Lunch (Clark and Klingenstein Lounges)

12:45-1:00      Announcement of results of team contest event (Clark and Klingenstein Lounges)

1:00                Departure and informal conversation.  Tour, if previously requested.