Problem Of The Month

May 2024 Article

How can we (easily!) guratnee a payout of at least $99 out of the potential $100? Check out the last article for the 23-24 academic year and find out! The April Problem was the last one for this academic year. Have a great summer and stay tuned as we expect to be back in the fall! 

April 2024 Problem

Let’s play a (colored hats) guessing game. Can you plan a strategy to make the best out of your guesses? Read the April Problem and send us your solutions!

This is our final problem for this academic year

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your last chance to win some cool prizes until the fall!

April 2024 Article

Sometimes it’s a good idea to solve math problems using drawings rather than formulae. We saw some examples in the last couple of months. But it’s not always the case! Check out the April Article and see for yourself!

March 2024 Problem

Sometimes is it better solving problems using drawings rather than numbers and complicated formulae. But is it always the case? Read the March Problem and send us your solutions! Hint - the problems are easier than they seem :) 

March 2024 Article

What happens when we try to add up infinitely many numbers? Sometimes things are fine, but quite often strange thing happen… Check out the March Article and see for yourself! 

February 2024 Problem

How can we visually understand sums of infinitely many numbers? Read the February Problem and send us your solutions!

February 2024 Article

1+3=4=2²

1+3+5=9=3²

1+3+5+7=16=4²

1+3+5+7+9=25=5²

Why do we always get n² when we add up the first n positive odd numbers? How can we understand this phenomena from various points of view? Check out the February Article to find some answers!

January 2024 Problem

1+3=4=2²

1+3+5=9=3²

1+3+5+7=16=4²

1+3+5+7+9=25=5²

Do we always get squares when we add up some first positive odd numbers? If so, why? Read the January Problem and send us your solutions if you can explain what’s going on!

January 2024 Article

When drawing straws, is it better to choose first or last? And how is this question related to Moses choosing his Elders? Check out the January Article and get to know the Law of total probability. You will also see how it can be used to answer these questions easily.

December 2023 Problem

Our December problem originates from the Bible.  Can you use your math skills in order to help Moses lead? If you can, send us your solutions... Happy Holidays everyone! 

December 2023 Article

What do pigeons have to do with mathematics? Check out the December article and get to know the super important (yet super simple) pigeonhole principle. You will also see how we can use this principle in order to learn about prime numbers, colored socks and numbered sticky notes. 

November 2023 Problem

Is there anything magical in the number 7? Does it especially like the other prime numbers? How is it related to pairs of socks and random numbers written on sticky notes? See for yourself in the November Problem!

November 2023 Article

Want to know why we Can’t Square The Circle? Why we Can’t Double The Cube? Why did the Ancient Greeks think these problems will help them in fighting the 430 BCE great plague of Athens? How is it all related to modern Algebra (and very old Geometry)? Oh, and what all of this have to do with finding the best spot for a rest stop?


October 2023 Problem

Here's our first problem for the new academic year! Help the people of these two town find the best place to build a rest stop along the highway.

Welcome!

We are thrilled to launch the NEW Problem Of The Month series, hosted by the Mathematics Department at Boise State University! 

How Does it work? Each month we'll present a new problem. The following month we'll present a solution, and through it we'll discover a new field in Mathematics.

Who's it for? YOU! The problems and articles are for anyone interested. Whether you're in school (any grade!), college, or you just enjoy thinking about cool problems and learning interesting things - The Problem Of The Month is for YOU!

How do I participate? If you wish, you can send your solutions to mathoutreach@boisestate.edu (details on how to do that appear on the problem sheets). You can also just have fun thinking of the problems (details on how to do that also appear on the problem sheets).

Are there any prizes? Yes! We ask school students submitting solutions to write down the name of their school, their grade and the name of their math teacher. The most creative / correct solutions will be announced and win their senders some cool prizes.

Is there a mailing list? Yes! Scroll this page all the way down in order to join and stay informed. All are welcome to join the list and receive the problems and articles directly - students, teachers, parents, grandparents and anyone else! 

Who's behind the scenes? My name is Ary Shaviv. I joined the Mathematics Department at Boise State on August 2023, and I'll be running the Problem Of The Month games - I don't like to call it a competition as the point is not to win. I hope that thinking about our problems will stimulate your imagination, and will be fun and interesting!

22-23 Academic Year Archive

The problems published in an earlier version of the Problem Of The Month Series may be found here.

Join Our Mailing List

Do you want to get updates when new problems and solutions are posted? All are welcome to join the list and receive the problems and articles directly - students, teachers, parents, grandparents and anyone else!