Challenge Sets: What Are they?

BEAM challenge sets are fun problems and puzzles that we put together for you each month. Send your solutions back to us so that we can keep working on interesting challenging math with you!

Each month, we’ll send you solutions to old challenge sets, and give shout outs and prizes to students who do a great job, and send a whole new batch of problems to explore.

Working on challenge sets is not required, but we hope you’ll try out the problems. They’re pretty interesting puzzles, and submitting your ideas will help you keep growing and help your BEAM Pathway Program application.

Click one of the button below to access printable copies of this month’s Challenge Set:

Challenge Set 4 is DUE on Friday, February 14th. What does that mean?

Submitting Solutions

Whenever you’ve got challenge set ideas to share, great! Please submit your thinking to BEAM. We’re always excited to see what you’re thinking about mathematics.

You can submit your challenge set ideas to BEAM by:

  • texting photos to (424)-305-6451

  • emailing text or photos to mathchallenges@beammath.org

  • mailing solutions to PO Box 70309, Los Angeles, CA 90070

Don, our LA Program Coordinator, will review your thoughts and give you feedback. Mathematicians often revise their work, so submit your solutions each month, even if they’re incomplete!

If you answer 2 or more questions correctly by the due date, we’ll give you a shout out in the next challenge set. And if you answer 4 or more questions correctly, we’ll also send you some sweet BEAM swag!

Why Complete Challenge Sets?

Along with earning you prizes and teaching you new math, submitting challenge sets each month can strengthen your application to the BEAM Pathway Program.

One of the things we look for in strong BEAM Pathway Program applications is student commitment to learning challenging new math. Submitting challenge set solutions

Solutions to Previous Sets

We’ll post full solutions for each Challenge Set, so you can figure out where you got stuck and see other mathematicians’ solution strategies.

Each time we write solution sets, we “steal” interesting solutions that BEAM Discovery alumni have submitted. Maybe you’ll see your solution in an upcoming set!