MathWorks Mathematical Modelling Challenge (M3) - Full Guide
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Indigo Research Team
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Published:
February 19, 2025
Last Updated:
February 19, 2025
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Mathematical modeling is more than just crunching numbers—it requires logical thinking and creative solutions to real-world problems. If you're ready to put your problem-solving skills to the test, the MathWorks Mathematical Modeling Challenge (M3) is the perfect platform. This program allows high school students to demonstrate their talents in an intense, competitive environment. But what does it take to compete and succeed?
This guide details all the essential information including eligibility requirements and competition rules. To increase your chances of succeeding in this competition, you must learn about the structure and deadlines, and your coach must know these things as well. If you are interested in physics competitions as well, we recommend reading our article about the F=MA Exam.
The M3 Challenge is an annual contest where high school students collaborate in teams to address real-world problems through mathematical modeling. The Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) and Moody's Foundation established this initiative in 2006 to motivate high school students to explore applied mathematics. That's why it was formerly known as Moody's Mega Math Challenge before MathWorks became its official sponsor in 2017.
The Mathworks competition helps students understand how mathematics can solve real-world issues including environmental sustainability and economic problems. Over the years, the international mathematical challenge has attracted thousands of students from the U.S. and U.K. Since its inception, the competition has consistently confronted global challenges such as modeling the impact of climate change, optimizing water distribution, and analyzing food insecurity. Teams work within a set deadline to examine a complex problem before creating a solution and delivering its results. Total prizes reach up to $100,000, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Finalists also receive national recognition, networking opportunities, and valuable extracurricular experience that could inspire them to pursue STEM careers. Also, if you are interested in other math competitions, you might be interested in the Math Kangaroo Competition.
The M3 Math challenge is open to high school juniors and seniors in the United States, including U.S. territories and DoDEA schools. Sixth-form students (ages 16-19) in England and Wales are welcome to apply too. A school may register up to two teams but each team should include three to five students and one teacher-coach.
Students who participate in an eligible exchange program at a U.S. or U.K. school are allowed to compete provided they fulfill all requirements. The school they represent must officially enroll them.
These students have two options:
Students from various backgrounds can take part in the challenge but relatives of SIAM employees and MathWorks Challenge staff members are excluded from participating. Also, students from different schools can join as a team only through an approved dual enrollment arrangement which SIAM approves. The competition does not accept students taking classes below a full-time course load.
The M3 Math Challenge is a fast-paced competition where teams use mathematical modeling to address real-world problems. Beyond math skills, the challenge tests for teamwork, time management, and your ability to solve modeling problems under stress—which are vital attributes for future STEM experts. The challenge is held online, so you can join from your school or home remotely.
Teams are made up of three to five students each of whom must obtain registration through a teacher-coach. Students typically enter teams through their school's math club or receive support from an advisor to ensure effective collaboration.
Teams must choose on a 14-hour period within the competition weekend when they will work on the challenge. When teams start their work the timer begins and they must analyze the problem, develop a mathematical model, and submit a detailed report before time expires.
After Challenge Weekend ends, the team's coach will get an email directing them to finish the authenticity certification process through the MyM3 website. This step requires the coach to:
The math modeling challenge follows a multistage judging system where more than 125 Ph. Ph.D.-level applied mathematicians assess submissions based on mathematical accuracy, depth of analysis, and clarity of explanation.
1. First Round: All submitted reports are reviewed, and teams are notified of results in late March or April.
2. Finalist Selection: The top six teams move on to the final round, where they present their solutions before a judging panel.
3. Oral Presentations: The finalists must make a trip to New York, NY to present their submissions in person. The M3 Challenge Team Travel and Expense Reimbursement Guidelines cover all team travel expenses.
The M3 Challenge has seen students tackle various real-world problems through mathematical modeling. Here are some modeling math problems students have solved in the past:
The US and UK have faced increasing housing shortages and homelessness. To resolve this issue, students are required to
Teams combined the statistical analysis of housing data, predictive modeling, and policy impact evaluation to resolve the housing crisis.
The United States saw a 70 percent increase in annual electric bike (e-bike) sales in 2021. Policymakers felt this new development could help reduce car usage and promote sustainable transport. They even consider offering tax breaks to e-bike users and expanding bicycle lanes. But these decisions must be backed up with data. So students were tasked to analyze the rising popularity of electric bikes and their subsequent effects. The exercise involved:
The research team used regression analysis, surveys, and simulations to predict trends and evaluate positive outcomes and obstacles to the growing presence of e-bikes.
After the 2020 global pandemic, we now have more people working remote jobs. To gain more insight into this shift, students have to use math modeling to explore the sustainability and future trajectory of remote work. The challenge required that they:
The study analyzed workforce productivity metrics, company policies, and technological advancements to understand how they shape remote work trends.
The Math Modeling Challenge enforces the following set of rules to maintain fair play and uphold the contest's integrity:
1. Teams should include three to five students who attend the same school and one teacher-coach who acts as their advisor.
2. Schools can enter up to two teams.
3. Students from homeschool and cyber school programs can set up their teams or seek permission to join an existing team at a nearby school.
4. Registration for competition must occur before the official deadline as submissions received after this point will not be accepted.
5. Once the timers start counting, teams must complete their tasks within the given time frame because pausing or restarting is not allowed.
6. Teams are required to operate independently because assistance from coaches, teachers, and external entities is strictly forbidden except for materials available to the public.
7. The submitted report must be entirely original and properly acknowledge any consulted sources. Teams that submit plagiarized work or fail to credit external sources will be disqualified immediately.
If you're preparing for the international mathematics competition in 2025, you need to keep track of the following dates and deadlines:
February 28 - March 3, 2025 – Teams select a continuous 14-hour work period within this timeframe, beginning anytime from 12:01 a.m. ET on Friday to 11:00 p.m. ET on Monday.
March 4, 2025 – Each team member must submit a Consent to Participate form before the challenge weekend begins. Participants under 18 require a parent/guardian signature.
March 7, 2025 – The team’s coach must submit an Authenticity Certification, confirming that their submission adheres to the official rules.
March 6-19, 2025 – Initial triage judging takes place for both the main competition and the Technical Computing Award.
March 19, 2025 – Teams advancing to Round 2 are notified.
March 20-23, 2025 – Contention judging occurs to evaluate top submissions.
March 26, 2025 – Finalists, semi-finalists, honorable mentions, and special award winners (SPARK and Technical Computing) are announced.
April 28, 2025 – Finalist teams and Technical Computing Award winners travel to New York City for confirmation judging and live presentations, followed by the awards ceremony.
Teams planning to compete in the MathWorks modeling challenge must complete their registration through the MyM3 site before the official deadline. The coach helps teams register and provide all members with shared access credentials (the team ID and password) to use the platform. The MyM3 site serves as both the registration center and the platform for the competition. During Challenge Weekend, teams will:
After the Challenge Weekend, teams have until 3:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday to update their registration information (such as participant names). This allows them to update their records to account for any last-minute participant changes or absences. Once this deadline passes the team data becomes set and should show accurate participation details.
Coaches can support students before the contest by guiding them toward free online materials. But they must refrain from helping during competition time. They are not even permitted to be physically present with the team during Challenge Weekend. After the competition, the coach finalizes the authenticity certification process which validates that teams complied with official rules.
The math modeling competition honors exceptional student contributions with multiple scholarships. Here are the different award categories:
Finalist Awards go to the top six teams who demonstrate superior mathematical modeling and solution methods for the Challenge problem.
These awards go to teams who successfully use programming methods to enhance their solutions beyond spreadsheet-based work. Winners of these awards may also receive other M3 Modelling Challenge scholarships.
Title I eligible U.S. school teams can receive SPARK Awards that recognize their passionate and resourceful problem-solving solutions.
Succeeding in the M3 Challenge requires more than just mathematical skills—it demands strategic preparation and teamwork. Here are some key strategies to help your team perform at its best:
The Challenge requires a well-rounded team to address its multiple components. Build a team with a variety of skills instead of selecting the best math students. The ideal team should have a member skilled in data analysis, and another skilled in developing mathematical models.
Team members contribute effectively when they hold specific roles like researcher, modeler, coder, and writer. However, they need to develop collaborative skills through practice sessions and discussions before the competition day.
One of the best ways to prepare is by reviewing the math modeling problems of previous competitions. Previous prompts help teams understand the Challenge's structure and expected outcomes. You also have to review past winning solutions to find out what made them stand out—perhaps it was a clear modeling approach, strong data interpretation, or well-written justifications.
When practicing past mathematical modeling problems, students should simulate real competition conditions by setting a 14-hour deadline. They will find the Challenge easier to handle by recreating the competition's fast-paced environment.
Since the M3 Math Competition emphasizes practical math applications, participants must build strong mathematical skills including algebra, statistics, optimization, and probability. They should also learn how to make reasonable assumptions and justify their choices.
Using programming languages such as Python, MATLAB, or R can also help improve a team’s performance. Spreadsheets are good enough for fundamental calculations but programming enables teams to process extensive data sets and develop sophisticated simulations and models. The Technical Computing Award honors teams that demonstrate exceptional coding skills within their solutions.
Participants must manage their time effectively because they have only 14 continuous hours to finish the Challenge. Teams should organize their work sessions by splitting them into distinct stages such as brainstorming, research, modeling, and writing. The best teams don’t rush straight into calculations—they take time to understand the problem, make assumptions, and plan their technical work approach.
Following a structured timeline guarantees that every aspect of the solution is properly addressed. Allocate one hour for final proofreading and formatting before submitting your work. This helps identify errors and guarantees compliance with requirements.
Even the best mathematical models won't score well if they're not clearly explained. Judges generally prefer structured solutions that are concise and understandable. When writing, you need to maintain clarity and directness by providing step-by-step reasoning to support each decision made in the process.
Showing correct equations is not enough. Teams must explain their assumptions, method choices, and real-world implications of their results. Using graphs, tables, and other visual aids can help to simplify complex data.
The MathWorks Mathematical Modeling Challenge serves as both a competition platform and a learning environment. Besides the technical skills of mathematics and coding, students also learn how to think critically and work as part of a team. This experience can have a long-lasting effect, motivating students to pursue STEM careers in the future.
Mathematical modeling is the practice of using mathematical tools to represent real-world scenarios and develop solutions. It involves developing mathematical equations and algorithms to replicate real-world systems, make predictions, and support decision-making. Math modeling is used in engineering, economics, environmental science, and medicine to solve complex challenges.
Mathematical modeling starts with determining which real-world problem needs solving. When the problem becomes clear researchers create assumptions that make complex systems simpler yet maintain the realism of the model. The next step is to represent the problem accurately using mathematical equations or algorithms. Finally, researchers compare the model's predictions with real-world data. Mathematical modeling software can make this process more efficient.
Mathematical models exist in nearly every industry. For example, the SIR (Susceptible-Infected-Recovered) model in epidemiology helps in forecasting disease spread and shaping public health strategies. Another example of mathematical modeling is the supply and demand models in economics which help predict market change and understand consumer actions. Climate scientists rely on mathematical models to simulate weather patterns and predict the long-term effects of climate change.
If you're keen on sharpening your math and research skills beyond the M3 Challenge, you might want to try out the Indigo Research Intensive Seasonal (IRIS) Program. It's an online program where you collaborate with leading professors and researchers to publish a paper on your subject interest. In our engineering course, you'll learn how to build your engineering “toolbox” by combining analytical thinking with creativity to tackle real-world challenges.
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