UPEI math team ranks for the first time in Putnam contest

Four University of Prince Edward Island mathematics students finished in the top 25 per cent in the 71st annual William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition to earn UPEI its first-ever ranking.

Sam Arnold, Stephen Chandler, Jiaxin Cui, and Spencer Matheson participated in the December 4th contest, the most prestigious mathematics competition for undergraduate students in North America. This year, a total of 4,296 students from 546 institutions took part. The contest is written in two, three-hour sessions, each consisting of six very challenging math problems.

UPEI has participated in the yearly competition for the last 15 years. Dr. David Horrocks, associate professor of Mathematics at UPEI, said, 'I'm delighted to report that this year's results are our best ever. Jiaxin and Spencer had identical scores which placed them in the top 40 per cent and Sam placed in the top 5 per cent!'

Sam's result, which is the best ever by a UPEI student, will make him this year's recipient of the Icosahedron Prize. In addition to a monetary prize, Sam will have his name engraved on the icosahedron-shaped trophy which is presented annually to the UPEI student who attains the highest score on the Putnam. Sam Arnold, winner of the Icosahedron Prize.

Horrocks added that the students prepared for the competition by attending weekly training sessions as well as by taking a special topics course in mathematical problem solving that was offered in the fall of 2010.

'This is wonderful news and, on behalf of the campus, I extend my congratulations to the students,' said UPEI Vice-President Academic Jim Randall. 'This record result speaks to the students' excellent math skills and abilities as well as the quality mentoring that they are receiving from faculty.'