School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences hosts international math competition
Math Kangaroo USA brings K-12 students to ASU’s Tempe campus for a day of creative problem-solving and hands-on exploration
Students and volunteers gathered at Arizona State University’s Tempe campus for the Math Kangaroo competition, celebrating problem-solving and creativity in mathematics. Courtesy photo
Making mathematics fun is a great way to get young students interested and inspire their passion for the subject.
With that in mind, the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences at Arizona State University was a host site on March 19 for Math Kangaroo USA, an international mathematics competition for students in grades K-12. The competition focuses on creative problem-solving rather than routine computation — with short, engaging multiple-choice problems that test logical thinking and mathematical insight.
Thirty-seven students participated at the Tempe campus during this second year of hosting, with the majority in elementary and middle school. Most students were from the greater Phoenix metro area, including Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert and Peoria — but some families traveled from Tucson and other long distances.
During the competition, students get exposure to non-routine problems that emphasize reasoning and creativity. Math Kangaroo is often their first experience with contest-style mathematics, which helps build confidence, curiosity and problem-solving skills beyond the standard curriculum.
Math Kangaroo also helps build a stronger problem-solving culture, creating a bridge between K-12 students and the university math community, which aligns with the university's core design principle that encourages local impact and social embeddedness.
“Hosting at ASU gives students early exposure to a university environment and helps position ASU as a hub for mathematical enrichment in the region,” said Assistant Professor Zilin Jiang.
The Math Kangaroo competition consists of a single round administered on the third Thursday of March to thousands of students at registered centers. Math Kangaroo focuses on improving students’ math skills and teaching them new strategies for solving word and logic problems.
Faculty and postdoctoral volunteers from the school, including onsite organizer Zoe Wellner, helped make the event run smoothly, boosted by support from Jianping Pan, Agnid Banerjee, Shuang Zhou and Johannes Brust.
In addition to the competition, the school also hosted a small hands-on math exhibit featuring Catalan polytopes, created by graduate student Devansh Patel. Visiting students had the chance to explore the geometry and combinatorics behind the structures and ask questions directly, making abstract mathematics more tangible and interactive.
The school plans to host the competition at ASU again next year. Families interested in participating can find more information and register through the official Math Kangaroo USA website.
“We were really encouraged by both the turnout and the enthusiasm from students and families,” said Jiang. "It’s clear there is strong interest in mathematical problem-solving in the community, and we’re excited to continue growing this."