The Leaves of a Tree
Background:
"How much do the leaves on a tree weigh?" How might one estimate the actual weight of the leaves (or for t…
Camping along the Big Long River
Background:
Visitors to the Big Long River (225 miles) can enjoy scenic views and exciting white water rapids. The riv…
Modeling for Crime Busting
Background:
Your organization, the Intergalactic Crime Modelers (ICM), is investigating a conspiracy to commit a crimi…
Space Shuttle Problem: No More Space
Background:
On July 21, 2011, the 135th and final US Space Shuttle landed in Florida after its 13-day mission into orb…
Search and Find
Background:
Finding lost objects is not always an easy task, even when you have knowledge of a general location. Consi…
Snowboard Course
Background:
Determine the shape of a snowboard course (currently known as a "halfpipe") to maximize the production of…
Repeater Coordination
Background:
The VHF radio spectrum involves line-of-sight transmission and reception. This limitation can be overcome…
How environmentally and economically sound are electric vehicles? Is their widespread use feasible and practical?
Background:
Here are some issues to consider, but, of course, there are many more, and you will not be able to conside…
Bicycle Club
Background:
Several cities in the US are starting bike share programs. Riders can pick up and drop off a bicycle at an…
Curbing City Violence
Background:
A regional city has had lots of problems with gangs and violence over the years. The mayor, chief of polic…
The Sweet Spot
Background:
Explain the "sweet spot" on a baseball bat.
Every hitter knows that there is a spot on the fat part of a…
Criminology
Background:
In 1981 Peter Sutcliffe was convicted of thirteen murders and subjecting a number of other people to vicio…
The Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch
Background:
Based on recent scientific expeditions into the Pacific Ocean Gyre (a convergence zone where debris is acc…
Water, Water Everywhere
Background:
Fresh water is the limiting constraint for development in much of the United States. Devise an effective…
Tsunami ("Wipe Out!")
Background:
Recent events have reminded us about the devastating effects of distant or underwater earthquakes. Build a…
Designing a Traffic Circle
Background:
Many cities and communities have traffic circles-from large ones with many lanes in the circle (such as at…
Energy and the Cell Phone
Background:
This question involves the "energy" consequences of the cell phone revolution. Cell phone usage is mushroo…
Creating Food Systems: Re-Balancing Human-Influenced Ecosystems
Background:
Less than 1% of the ocean floor is covered by coral. Yet, 25% of the ocean’s biodiversity is supported in…
National Debt and National Crisis
Background:
Mathematical modeling involves two equally important steps - building models based on real world situation…
Going Green
Background:
The United States can address its national carbon footprint in two ways: by reducing carbon dioxide emissi…
Take a Bath
Background:
Consider the effects on land from the melting of the north polar ice cap due to the predicted increase in…
Creating Sudoku Puzzles
Background:
Develop an algorithm to construct Sudoku puzzles of varying difficulty. Develop metrics to define a diffic…
Finding the Good in Health Care Systems
Background:
Nations have systems for providing health care for their residents. Issues that are often of concern to pe…
Smoke Alarms
Background:
Fire is one of the leading causes of accidental deaths. It is important for everyone to take every prevent…
Car Rentals
Background:
Some people rent a car when they are going on a long trip. They are convinced they save money. Even if the…
Gerrymandering
Background:
The United States Constitution provides that the House of Representatives shall be composed of some number…
The Airplane Seating Problem
Background:
Airlines are free to seat passengers waiting to board an aircraft in any order whatsoever. It has become c…
Organ Transplant: The Kidney Exchange Problem
Background:
Despite the continuing and dramatic advances in medicine and health technology, the demand for organs for…
Inflation of the Parachute
Background:
A parachute is made from thin, lightweight fabric, support tapes and suspension lines. The lines are usual…
A South Sea Island Resort
Background:
A South Sea island chain has decided to transform one of their islands into a resort. This roughly circula…
Positioning and Moving Sprinkler Systems for Irrigation
Background:
There are a wide variety of techniques available for irrigating a field. The technologies range from advan…
Wheel Chair Access at Airports
Background:
One of the frustrations with air travel is the need to fly through multiple airports, and each stop genera…
Trade-offs in the fight against HIV/AIDS
Background:
As the HIV/AIDS pandemic enters its 25th year, both the number of infections and number of deaths due to t…
Modeling Ocean Bottom Topography
Background:
A marine survey ship maps ocean depth by using sonar to reflect a sound pulse off the ocean floor. Figure…
Gas Prices, Inventory, National Disasters, and the Mighty Dollar
Background:
It appears from the economic reports that the world uses gasoline on a very short supply and demand scale…
Flood Planning
Background:
Lake Murray in central South Carolina is formed by a large earthen dam, which was completed in 1930 for po…