Moody's+Challenge

The Moody's Mega Math Challenge is a contest for 11th and 12th grade students, in the eastern United States. At 7am on the appointed contest day (usually the first Saturday or Sunday in March) contest teams can download the Challenge problem, and have until 9pm do develop a solution paper and submit it electronically. In 2012, nearly 1000 solution papers were submitted, of which 134 were selected to move on to the second round of judging.
 * MOODY'S MEGA MATH CHALLENGE: moody's challenge **

This year's problem challenge students to analyze the viability of high-speed rail travel in the United States. A portion of the problem is given here: //Create a model to identify which metropolitan regions are best able to support a high speed rail line. Specifically, your report should address the following issues:// //• If we build it, will they ride? Forecast ridership numbers in each region over the next 20 years. How will changes in rail travel times affect potential riders’ choice of transportation mode?// //• How much will it cost to build and maintain each high speed rail line? Will high speed rail lessen dependence on foreign energy? If so, by how much?// //• Using your model, rank each of the ten HSIPR-identified regions in order from most to least deserving of high speed rail funding. Identify both the criteria that you use to produce this ranking, and the ones that are most critical to this evaluation.//

In past years, problem topics have included Congressional Redistricting, Energy Independence and the Economic Stimulus. As a coach of a team here in Pennsylvania, I have found the contest helpful in having students identify their strengths and weaknesses. Who is best at developing a model? Who can develop creative methods to analyze a model? Do we have a computer programmer who can apply the information? Who is best at communicating a result? The contest is not for the weak of heart, but I am proud of the effort of my students, and know that they will gain insight into their own abilities through the effort.

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