Each year, the Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges sponsors an undergraduate mathematics competition. The competition was started in 1989 by Gary Gordon and Tom Yuster of Lafayette College and has continued through the generous efforts of many faculty members. In recent years, the competition has expanded to include other institutions in the Lehigh Valley.
This is a team competition held during the fall semester at one of the participating institutions. The contest is a 3 hour exam consisting of approximately 10 questions. Each team of 2 or 3 students works together to solve all the problems. Overall, the students involved have an enjoyable time, even if the problems can be challenging at times. An understanding of advanced mathematics is not required as the competition is intended for all students with an eagerness to solve mathematics challenges. The event is much less formal than competitions like the Putnam exam. Here, half of the focus is simply getting together with other individuals who like math.
Due to the ongoing COVID pandemic, the competitions for 2020 and 2021 were cancelled. However, we’re looking to make a return this fall in 2022. If you’re interested in participating in the future, be sure to contact your local LVAIC mathematics competition coordinator. In addition, if your school is not already involved but you are located near the Lehigh Valley and you are interested in having your school participate, contact me at liebnerj@lafayette.edu. For more information, check out a recent official flyer.
Past Tests
The following are a collection of tests from previous years. Feel free to check these out to see what the problems are like and to practice for the upcoming competition.