Math Exploration Day

20th Annual
Mathematical Exploration Day
Ithaca College
THURSDAY, March 12, 2026 (Earlier this year)

(Note: We attempt to send an email to notify area math teachers about this event. Some of you may get these emails. Unfortunately, spam filters at some schools are blocking our emails. Please spread the word about this event with your colleagues and don't assume they know about it.)

Each spring, students come to Ithaca College from several area high schools to experience a day of mathematical fun, exploration, and discovery. Dozens of sophomores and juniors arrive early on campus for registration and a welcome from the Department of Mathematics. Students take part in a team mathematical competition. During this competition, the high school teachers enjoy a professional development presentation. Following the competition, students and teachers explore mathematical ideas in various areas. Lunch follows with the announcement of the competition winners. It is a wonderful event that the IC Math Department looks forward to every year.

Teachers who would like to bring students to the event should register themselves and their students by completing the registration form below. Only one teacher per school should register, but note that the form will ask for information about other teachers attending. Additionally, we kindly ask all participants to complete a photo release form, which will be accessible through the registration form. 

Registration will open in early January and close on Thursday, February 12, 2026.

Driving Directions

Interactive Campus Map- when you arrive on campus, please come to Phillips Hall  

Registration: The Teachers registration form will be available soon. 

Teachers will receive a separate link for students to register. To avoid having too many extra t-shirts this year, we will only purchase t-shirts for students that register as well as for teachers. There will not be extra t-shirts.

The registration deadline this year will be Thursday, February 12, 2026.

NOTE: 2026 will be the same as last year's schedule, with some changes to the mini-sessions.

2025 Math Exploration Day Schedule

9:00    Registration (Clark Lounge & Klingenstein Lounge)

9:30     Welcome and Workshop Orientation (Clark Lounge & Klingenstein Lounge)

9:50     Math Contest – team event (Emerson Suites)

9:50     Math Exploration (Klingenstein Lounge)
          Making the best decision: The Prisoner's Dilemma

9:50     Presentation for Teachers (Clark Lounge) 
           Digital Roots: Insights from Ancient Indian Multiplication
           (Slides Below)

11:00-12:00  Mini-Sessions Exploring Mathematics (Emerson Suites)

• Mathematical Origami
• Recreational Math
• Law of Cosines
• Constructing Hypercube Models
• Music Sets
• Bubbles
• Cup Stacking
• Lissajous Curves—Patterns with Parametric Functions
• Music Recommendation
• Fold and Cut
• Chomp
• Sim
• A Biochemist does Mental Math
• Hands-On Explorations with Möbius Strips

12:00-12:45    Lunch (Emerson Suites & Emerson Suites Lobby)

12:45-1:00      Announcement of results of team contest event (Emerson Suites)

1:00                Departure and informal conversation.  Tour, if previously requested.