Math Competitions
Fearlessly test your mathematics skills against other students.
Put your equation-solving skills to the test with the Department of Chemistry and Mathematics' annual math competitions. Whether you're an undergraduate college student or a high school student, competing individually or on a team, there's an opportunity for you to show your skills.
SEMO Student Competitions
DataFest is a nationwide competition for undergraduates with the goal of analyzing big data provided by a well-known corporate sponsor. The event is organized at the University of Missouri by the Mid-Missouri Chapter of the American Statistical Association (ASA).
Summary
At the 2025 DataFest, students analyzed nearly 200,000 office lease records to predict whether tech companies would relocate or renew their leases. They tested three statistical models and found office size, year, and space type were key factors in these decisions.
Team
- Deepshika Karki
- Noah Lynch
- Abhishek Shrestha
- Krishna Thakar
Faculty Mentors
- Emmanuel Thompson
- Mohamed Abu-Sheha
Award: Best Use of Statistical Analysis
Team
- Moe Toyoda
- Gwen Squires
- Samuel Shevlin
- Thao Pham
Faculty Mentors
- Emmanuel Thompson
- Mohamed Abu-Sheha
Award: Best Use of Statistical Analysis
Team
- Moe Toyoda
- Jacob Beaird
Faculty Mentor
- Yi-Ching Lee
Award: Best in Show
Competitions We Host
SEMO is not only a place where students compete, it's also a place where talent is welcomed and celebrated across the region. Each year, SEMO hosts events that bring elementary and high school students to campus, creating opportunities for them to test their skills, meet other students, and experience SEMO firsthand.
MCTM Regional Elementary Math Contest
Math Field Day
Math Field Day Resources
The 2026 Math Field Day is scheduled for Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Algebra
Linear and quadratic equations. Systems of linear equations. Algebraic
simplification. Exponents and radicals. Functions and their graphs. Word
problems. Absolute value. Inequalities. Rational roots of a polynomial.
Remainder theorem. Binomial theorem. Complex numbers.
Geometry
Problems with numerical answers involving similar and congruent
figures. Questions based on a sophomore plane geometry course.
Trigonometry
Trigonometric and inverse trigonometric functions. Values of
trigonometric functions. Graphs. Solution of triangles. Trigonometric
equations. Identities. De Moivre's Theorem.
Mental Arithmetic
Problems employing basic operations of arithmetic will be presented by
use of flash cards. The only writing done by students will be to write
answers.
Computational Mathematics
Percentage. Addition, multiplication, and division of fractions.
Operations involving complex fractions. Square roots and decimal
numbers.
Elementary Data Analysis
Measures of central tendency, variability and correlation, data
transformations, best-line fit, graphical summaries.
Sets and Logic
Basic operations with sets-unions, intersection, complement. Venn
diagrams. Number of elements in a finite set. Truth value of
conjunction, disjunction and conditional statement forms. Truth tables
for compound sentences. Equivalence.
Number Theory
Number types and number patterns. Prime numbers and the
Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic. Greatest common divisor and
least common multiple. Euclidean algorithm.
Probability
Combinations and permutations. Probability of complements, union, and intersection of events. Independent events. Mutually exclusive events. Conditional probability. Expected value.
Hand Calculators
Problems employing basic operations of arithmetic. Consumer arithmetic. Measurement problems.
Non-Routine Problem Solving
Level I (9th & 10th Grades)
Interesting problems requiring ingenuity rather than high mathematical skills to solve. Arithmetic, basic algebra, knowledge of intuitive geometry, and number sense are used.
Level II (11th & 12th Grades)
Intriguing problems requiring ingenuity, logic, number theory, basic algebra, geometrical relations to solve rather than depending on highly developed technical skill in a branch of mathematics.
Algebra I
Algebraic simplification. Radicals. Factoring. Linear and quadratic equations. Linear inequalities. Word problems.
Algebra II
System of equations. Linear and quadratic equations and inequalities. Functions and their graphs. Rational roots of a polynomial. Binomial theorem.
Geometry
Problems with numerical answers involving similar and congruent figures. Length, area and volume. Angles in circles. Pythagorean Theorem. Questions based on a sophomore plane geometry course.
Word Problems
Problems that can be solved by a linear equation or a linear inequality. Types found in most traditional Algebra I books.
Number Bases
Computations in bases other than 10. Change from one base to another.
Word Problems
Problems that can be solved by a linear equation (inequality), quadratic equation (inequality), or by a system of equations.
Exponential and Log Functions
Logarithmic and exponential functions. Graphs. Using logarithms to solve exponential equations. Logarithms used in computation.
Matrices and Determinants
Properties of matrices and determinants. Computation and applications.
Analytic Geometry
Lines and conic sections. Distances. Curve sketching using intercepts,
symmetry, and asymptotes. Graphs. Coordinate geometry.
Calculus
Derivatives and integrals of algebraic functions with applications.
Algebra I
Same topics as on the Class-Specific Algebra I test.
Algebra II
Same topics as on the Class-Specific Algebra II test plus questions on
absolute value, arithmetic and geometric sequences, logarithmic and
exponential functions, and word problems.
Geometry
Same topics as on the Class-Specific Geometry test. Questions based on
a sophomore plane geometry course.
Trigonometry
Same topics as on the Open Trigonometry test.
Medley
Algebra I. Algebra II. Geometry. Senior level mathematics.
This award is designed to recognize two schools as the all-around winner in their division. A trophy will
be given to both a large school and a small school. To determine the winner, points will be awarded to
those individuals and teams earning first, second, and third places for each event. The points will be
awarded as follows:
- Each team event will earn 16 points for 1st place, 10 points for 2nd place, and 6 points for 3rd place.
- The individual events will earn 8 points for 1st place, 5 points for 2nd place, and 3 points for 3rd place.
Grade Specific Events Sample Tests
Open Events Sample Tests
Team Events Sample Tests
Contact Us
Location
Office
Rhodes Hall 306
Johnson Hall 201
Mailing Address
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701