The 20th Annual Math Exploration Day will be on Thursday, March 12, 2026. Note the earlier date.

 

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

(Note: We attempt to send an 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. Only one teacher per school should register, but note that the form will ask for information about other teachers attending. Additionally, we request all participants to complete a photo release form, which will be provided through the registration form. 

Registration closes on Monday, March 3, 2025.

Driving Directions

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

file-outline Ithaca College Campus Map - ithaca_college_campus_map (pdf)

Registration: Teachers registration form: https://connect.ithaca.edu/register/2025MathExploEducator

The registration deadline this year will be March 3, 2025.

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

2025 Math Exploration Day Schedule

9:00    Registration (Clark Lounge & Klingenstein Lounge)

9:30     Welcome and Workshop Orientation (Clark Lounge & Klingenstein Lounge)

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
           Digital Roots: Insights from Ancient Indian Multiplication
           (Slides Below)

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

  • Mathematical Origami
  • Recreational Math
  • Law of Cosines
  • Constructing Hypercube Models
  • Music Sets
  • Bubbles
  • Cup Stacking
  • Lissajous Curves—Patterns with Parametric Functions
  • Music Recommendation
  • Fold and Cut
  • Chomp
  • Sim
  • A Biochemist does Mental Math
  • Hands-On Explorations with Möbius Strips

12:00-12:45    Lunch (Emerson Suites & Emerson Suites Lobby)

12:45-1:00      Announcement of results of team contest event (Emerson Suites)

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

file-outline Slides for the 2025 Teacher Talk - slides-teacher-talk-math-day-2025 (pdf)
Details & Results from the Math Exploration Day 2025

15 schools
160 students
27 teachers
122 students competed on 33 teams

First Place: 

Vestal Senior High School: Derek D, Michael H, Praket G, Abhiram K

Second Place: 

Lansing High School: Alex K, Charlie  B, Andre Y

Third Place: 

Skaneateles High School: Jackson B, Cole K, Elijah B, Gabe H

The competition questions and solutions are below

Past Competition Questions & Solutions

file-outline 2025 Competition Questions - 2025_ic_mathday_competition (pdf)
file-outline 2025 Competition Solutions - 2025_ic_mathday_competition_answers (pdf)
file-outline 2024 Competition Questions - 2024_ic_mathday_competition-v2 (pdf)
file-outline 2024 Competition Solutions - 2024_competition_answers_final (pdf)
file-outline 2023 Competition Questions - 2023 Competition Questions (pdf)
file-outline 2023 Competition Solutions - 2023_competition_answers_final-v2 (pdf)
file-outline 2022 Competition Questions - 2022_competition (pdf)
file-outline 2022 Competition Solutions - 2022_competition_solution (pdf)
file-outline 2019 Competition Questions - 2019_competition_0 (pdf)
file-outline 2019 Competitions Solutions - 2019_competition_solution_0 (pdf)