WASHINGTON, DC - The Mathematical Association of America is proud to announce the results of the 2024 William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition, the most prestigious mathematics competition for undergraduates. The 85th annual Putnam Competition, administered by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), recognized the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as the top team and named five undergraduate students Putnam Fellows for their high scores in the prestigious six-hour mathematics competition.
On December 7, 2024, 3,988 students from 477 institutions participated in the formidably rigorous Putnam Competition. The top individual score on the six-hour exam was 90 out of a possible 120 points, while the average score was approximately 8, and the median score was 2.
This year, the competition expanded beyond the United States and Canada with a pilot program that included colleges and universities in Mexico.
“My hope is that every participant had fun working on these problems, enjoying the challenge and the thrill of engaging deeply with mathematics in this way. I know that every participant expanded their horizons, exercised their creativity, and enhanced their ability to tackle difficult tasks. Congratulations to all the participants in this year's Putnam Competition," said Daniel Ullman, director of the Putnam Competition. The Putnam Competition awards cash prizes to the top five teams, the highest-scoring individuals known as Putnam Fellows, and the top-performing female participant, who receives the Elizabeth Lowell Putnam Award.
Top 5 Putnam Competition Teams: 2024
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2. Harvard University
3. Stanford University
4. Carnegie Mellon University
5. University of California, Santa Barbara
2025 Individual Putnam Fellows, listed in alphabetical order:
Jiangqi Dai, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Papon Lapate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Brian Liu, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Luke Robitaille, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Qiao Sun, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2024 Elizabeth Lowell Putnam Prize Winner:
Jessica Wan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Mathematical Association of America organizes the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition with the generous support of the William Lowell Putnam Prize Fund. For more information about participating in the Putnam Competition, visit maa.org.
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The Mathematical Association of America is the world’s largest community of mathematicians, students, and enthusiasts. We accelerate the understanding of our world through mathematics because mathematics drives society and shapes our lives.