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The James Madison University Department of Mathematics
usually fields teams in the annual William L. Putnam
Mathematical Competition, or Putnam Exam. The Putnam Exam is a
notoriously challenging exam consisting of 12 mind-numbing problems, 6
in the morning session and 6 in the afternoon. These problems cut
across many areas of mathematics, and are designed to test
"originality as well as technical competence," according to the
announcement brochure.
The Putnam is usually held on the first Saturday in December.
Thousands of undergraduate mathematics students throughout the United
States & Canada take this examination more or less simultaneously at
their own institutions. The registration deadline is in mid-October;
there is no fee for participating.
You can find old problems and solutions at the William
Lowell Putnam Competition Archive.
If you are interested in the Putnam, contact Professor Van Wyk.
Some brochure excerpts
The competition is open only to regularly enrolled undergraduates in
colleges & universities of the United States & Canada, who have not
yet received a college degree. No individual may participate more
than four times.
Prizes and scholarships are available to the highest ranking
individuals and to the five winning teams. Institutions throughout
the United States & Canada are encouraged to offer fellowships to high
ranking contestants in the competition.
In addition, the Elizabeth Lowell Putnam Prize will be awarded
periodically to a woman whose performance on the Putnam Exam has been
deemed particularly meritorious. This prize would be in addition to
any other prizes she might otherwise win.
Schedule
- Exam date/time: Saturday, December 4, 2004
- Morning session: 10 am - 1 pm
- Afternoon session: 3 pm - 6 pm
JMU's recent Putnam participants
- 2004 Participants:
Michael Albert,
Nick Giffen
- 2003 Participants:
Caleb Meier,
Amy Turlington
- 2002 Participants:
Kristina Lee,
Augustine O'Keefe
- 2001 Participants:
Eva Goedhart,
Kristina Lee,
Augustine O'Keefe,
Steven Penny
- 2000 Participants:
Rob Knapik,
Daniel Robinson,
Rebecca Wasyk
- 1999 Participants:
Kathleen Bellino,
Brett Enge,
Florin Nedelciuc,
Daniel Robinson,
Greg Tumolo,
Rebecca Wasyk,
Bruce Whalen
- 1998 Participants:
Thomas Coleman,
Brett Enge,
Susan Hill,
Roxana Karimianpour,
Justin Voshell,
Rebecca Wasyk
- 1997 Participants:
Holly Boone,
Anthony Erdman,
Scott Kelly,
Eric Moshier,
Patrick Raphael,
Rebecca Wasyk
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