Every year, thousands of high school students from around the world take on the challenge of mathematical modeling in COMAP’s High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling (HiMCM)® and Middle Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MidMCM). These competitions push students to think critically, collaborate effectively, and apply math to solve complex, real-world problems. The 2024 results are in, and it’s time to celebrate the achievements of the teams that tackled this year’s modeling challenges!

More About HiMCM/MidMCM

The HiMCM/MidMCM contests challenge teams of up to four students to develop mathematical models to solve an open-ended problem. Participants submit detailed solutions, demonstrating their ability to analyze data, structure models, and present logical conclusions—just like real-world researchers and analysts.

These competitions emphasize creativity, teamwork, and practical application of mathematics. The problems posed often relate to pressing global issues, encouraging students to think beyond equations and explore how math can drive solutions.

2024 HiMCM/MidMCM Outstanding Winners

HiMCM Problem A

Problem A challenged students to develop a mathematical model to help the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decide which sports, disciplines, or events (SDEs) should be included in the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane, Australia. Teams had to analyze factors such as popularity, accessibility, gender equity, sustainability, inclusivity, relevance, innovation, safety, and fair play to recommend which SDEs should be added or removed from the Games.

Outstanding Winners:

• Team 14995: The International Department of Yali High School, Hunan, China
• Team 15041: Ward Melville High School, NY, USA
• Team 15504: Nanjing Foreign Language School Xianlin Campus, Jiangsu, China
• Team 15926: Chiway Repton School Xiamen, Fujian, China
• Team 16159: Stuyvesant High School, NY, USA (NCTM Award)

HiMCM Problem B

Problem B required teams to create a mathematical model to evaluate the environmental impact of high-powered computing (HPC), such as AI processing, data science, and cryptocurrency mining. Teams analyzed energy consumption, carbon emissions, water usage, e-waste, resource depletion, and other environmental concerns to determine the sustainability of HPC and propose strategies for reducing its ecological footprint.

Outstanding Winners:

• Team 15502: Tabor Academy, MA, USA
• Team 15022: Jiangsu Province Tianyi High School, Jiangsu, China
• Team 16226: Haiyan County Senior High School, Zhejiang Province, China (NCTM Award)

MidMCM Problem C

The MidMCM problem focused on planning an optimal concert tour for a musical performer. Teams selected a real-world artist and used mathematical modeling to design a tour that balanced ticket pricing, venue selection, fan engagement, and financial profitability. They analyzed past tour data to create an optimized tour schedule that maximized attendance while considering logistical constraints.

Outstanding Winners:

• Team 15637: Shanghai Starriver Bilingual School, Shanghai, China (NCTM Award)
• Team 16255: R.J. Grey Junior High, MA, USA

For a complete list of winners, you can check out the official 2024 results here.

Congratulations to All Participants!

Whether teams placed at the top or simply embraced the challenge, every student who participated in HiMCM/MidMCM gained valuable problem-solving experience and developed skills that will benefit them far beyond this contest. The dedication, teamwork, and perseverance shown by all participants deserve recognition and applause.

If you’re inspired by this year’s results, consider participating in next year’s competition! It will be held on November 5-18, 2025. Check out these reasons to participate in math modeling contests and stay updated on registration and contest details at COMAP’s official HiMCM/MidMCM page.

Once again, congratulations to all the students, teachers, and advisors who made the 2024 HiMCM/MidMCM a success!