Mathematical Contest in Modeling: Comments on Winning Papers by Zhejiang University Students

Author: Yang Qifan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: Since 1983, Zhejiang University has offered a course on mathematical modeling. In the initial years, this course was both an elective and a required course for the Department of Mathematics. At that time, the main objectives of offering this course were twofold. First, we wanted students to, through the study of this course and participation in certain mathematical modeling practices, personally experience that although mathematics is a discipline dependent on abstract thinking, it is certainly not a castle in the air. Most of the problems it studies have a strong practical background and broad application prospects. Detached from production realities, mathematics would lose its vitality and the driving force behind its development, thereby sparking their interest in researching practical topics. Second, given that some students in the Department of Mathematics at that time considered learning mathematics rather dull and unsure of its practical utility, we hoped that the establishment of this course would help these students understand the importance of a solid mathematical foundation and inspire their enthusiasm for learning and applying mathematical knowledge.