This competition is open to all middle school students across the US, and prizes will be distributed online. Winners will also receive name recognition at DTMT.

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Problems and Scoring

The Problems of the Day Challenge features two numberical answer questions and a proof based question. Problem 1 (numerical answer) is worth 4 points; Problem 2 (numerical answer) is worth 6 points; Problem 3 (proof) is worth 10 points. Proofs will be graded according to the rubrics released on the following day. Full credit on a proof requires both discovery of the correct formula or result when applicable (5 points) and clear, rigorous justification following the rubric and other holistic evaluative criteria (5 points). 

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Writing Proofs

As stated earlier, Problem 3 is a proof-based question. Previous problems are designed to guide your thinking, introduce the relevant concepts, and highlight the patterns that will ultimately help you construct a clear, rigorous argument. If you understand why your earlier answers are true, you already have most of the key ideas needed for the proof. For those who would like support with proof writing techniques, we also provide a proof guide that walks through the fundamentals step by step.

In the testing page, Problem 3 will feature a LaTeX editor, a LaTeX reference, and an AI helper to assist with LaTeX. Hence, knowing how to write LaTeX is NOT required. Your proof will compile, and it will not affect your score. You are not expected to learn LaTeX to participate. However, for those who want to format their work cleanly, LaTeX can be extremely helpful. For your convenience, we have created a short LaTeX guide that teaches the basics you might find useful in this challenge.

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Awards and Sponsors

The top three performing students will receive a $50 AoPS gift card, while the top three performing students who participate in DTMT will receive a prize. In the case of a tie, the student who finishes with a faster time will be ranked higher. Awards will be sent one to two weeks after the conclusion of the competition.

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These prizes are generously provided through the support of our sponsor the Art of Problem Solving. We extend our sincere appreciation to them for sponsoring this year’s awards and for their continued commitment to enriching mathematical education. Their contributions help us recognize student achievement and sustain our club's activities and events. Learn more at artofproblemsolving.com