The MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge (M3 Challenge), commonly known as the M3 Challenge, is a mathematical modeling competition for high school students in the United States. The competition is organized by MathWorks, a leading provider of mathematical computing software, in partnership with the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM).
The M3 Challenge aims to encourage students to apply mathematical modeling to real-world problems and develop their problem-solving and teamwork skills. Participating teams, consisting of three to five high school students and one teacher-coach, compete by analyzing and solving a complex, open-ended problem over the course of a weekend.
The M3 Challenge emphasizes the application of mathematics to address real-world issues, such as environmental, social, economic, or technological problems. The competition evaluates teams based on the clarity of their mathematical analysis, the creativity of their modeling approach, and the effectiveness of their solutions.