This page was last updated May 12, 2004

We believe it is time to invigorate the mathematical interests and encourage the development of the mathematical talents of those going on to careers in mathematics, teaching, information technology, engineering, science, medicine, skilled trades, commerce, banking, and business, among others. With these objectives firmly in mind, we have designed a new kind of mathematics contest which, along with testing individual problem solving abilities will equally evaluate teams working together on more challenging problems.

For the academic year 2004-2005 we are again seeking support from our community for this project which we believe will more than repay its cost in attracting and retaining our talent in order to build a sophisticated advanced technology.

Information for Math Department Heads

Contest Headquarters for the 2004 Contest will be in Ryan Building 1042 at Lakehead University. This room will be available all day, although the contest will be written in separate rooms which will be assigned at registration. The Schedule is:

Pre-registration. To allow time for organization of the contest we must have PRE-REGISTRATION INFORMATION on or before APRIL 28, 2004. The information we need is:

1. Contestant names, organized in teams
2. Faculty advisors who will be present on the Contest Day

The main reason for naming contestants in advance is to allow us to prepare the contest paper, with the names of the contestants on EACH PAGE. For marking, the contest booklets are separated so the uniformity of marking can be achieved by having each problem marked by a single person. If a substitution is made, the new name will have to be overwritten on each page.

Extra Teams. If the pre-registration results in less than 96 contestants city wide, the unfilled places will be opened for "extra teams" designated by schools who wish to do so. The filling of extra places will be first-come-first-served. Pre-registration data will be available on this website on April 29.

Further Information. Please stay tuned to this site for additional information between now and contest day. Send your PRE-REGISTRATION data to arrive by April 28 via email to mathcontest@lakeheadu.ca, by fax to 807-343-8821, or by regular mail to arrive no later than April 28 to the address below:

Awards Night Recognition and awards will be made on the evening of May 19, 2004 in the Lakehead University Agora

University parking regulations will be in effect on May 12, but we will be able to provide parking passes for a limited number of vehicles at the Parking Kiosk, provided we are notified of the number needed before May 5, 2004 by calling the Mathematics Department Secretary at 343-8469.

ClickHERE for the CONTEST PROBLEMS, SOLUTIONS, and PICTURES from both the contest and award ceremony.

Thanks to all the students and their teachers for making this contest a success!

To see more on last year's contest, please check out the 2003 Thunder Bay High School Mathematics Contest Website.

The neatest solution of the month for both Junior and Senior sections will be chosen, and will receive a prize of $50, and may be posed on this site.

If you submit solutions, the judges will assume you have given your permission for your name and grade to be published on the web site if you are a prize winner, or if you are one of a number of people who correctly solve a problem.

The first four sets of problems for the 2004 contest are posted below. The due date for the fifth set of solutions is April 16, 2004. Solutions can be submitted by mail, or by other means, provided that 'other means' insure receipt by the deadline date:

The winners of the $50 montly awards for the first two sets of 2004 problems are as follows:

• First Set of Problems
  • Junior Jenny Liu, Grade 9, Churchill H.S. Jenny continues the winning ways she established in the the 2003 pre-contest problems. Congratulations Jenny. A cheque is in the mail.
  • Senior The senior prize goes to a team composed of Michael Gillies and Yinan Deng, Churchill H.S. A cheque for $50 is in the mail to this team. We hope for more team solutions in the future.

• Second Set of Problems
  • Junior Jenny Liu
  • Senior Michael Gillies

Here are the problems, both present and past:

• Problem 5-2004 (Due April 16, 2004)
  • Junior/Senior Problems

• Problem 4-2004 (Due Feb. 29, 2004)
  • Junior/Senior Problems

• Problem 3-2004 (Due Jan 30, 2004)
  • Junior/Senior Problems

• Problems 2-2004 (Due Dec 12, 2003)
  • Junior Problems
  • Senior Problems

• Problems: 1-2004 (Due Nov 7, 2003)
  • Junior Problems
  • Senior Problems

Teachers have suggested in 2002-2003 that problem solvers would like to get marker feedback on their solutions. We cannot promise always to do so, but if marker time permits we will try. To receive marker's comments, you must do the following.

1. State at the top of your paper, along with your name, grade, and school, the words COMMENTS REQUESTED.
2. Express your solutions with care, so that the marker can understand what you are saying.
3. Write only on ONE SIDE of your papers, and leave space BETWEEN your solutions for comments.

Financial contributions are needed to support the contest in the areas of contestants' lunches, awards, and prizes, and monthly pre-contest problem activities and monthly awards. Contributions are welcomed, and will receive tax receipts from Lakehead University, together with appropriate notice on this site.

Donations should be sent to