Merten Hasse Mathematics Competition
67th Annual Merten Hasse Mathematics Contest - April 6, 2024
The Department of Mathematical Sciences annually hosts the Merten Hasse Math Competition for area junior high and high school students. Schools earn points for each student who places in the top eight of the division exams.
Please feel free to use this poster in your schools.
Event Information
Awards
Individual competition: Recognition certificates will be awarded on four levels - superior, outstanding, excellent and honorable mention. Large schools and small schools will compete separately within divisions I, II, III and IV, but will compete together in Division V, Calculus. Long-sleeve tee shirts will be given to first-place winners of each category and division. Short-sleeve tee shirts will be given to the second-place winners of each category and division.
School Competition: Each school earns points for their recognized students from the individual competition, with large and small schools competing separately. These points will give your school the opportunity to be awarded a plaque for first or second-place in the Merten Hasse Mathematics Competition.
Scholarships
Up to two tuition scholarships to the University of South Dakota may be awarded. These scholarships will be given to the two highest-ranking seniors, with one senior each from large schools and small schools. All seniors are required to fill out the scholarship form in order to be eligible for a scholarship. While we would like the scholarship winners to be mathematics majors, declaring mathematics as a major is not a requirement to receive a scholarship.
In addition to seniors being awarded these scholarships for the upcoming fall semester, the highest-ranking freshmen, sophomores and juniors may also be awarded scholarships. However, instead of these being given immediately, your information will be stored in our files. This way, you can accumulate additional scholarships in following years. When you are ready to attend the University of South Dakota as an incoming freshman, you will then receive the accumulated tuition scholarships.
School Sizes
Final classification for borderline cases will be given at registration.
High Schools
- Large schools: Total enrollment in grades 10, 11 and 12 of more than 200 students.
- Small schools: Total enrollment in grades 10, 11 and 12 of fewer than 200 students
Junior High/Middle Schools
- Large schools: Total enrollment of more than 80 students in 9th grade
- Small schools: Total enrollment of fewer than 80 students in 9th grade
6th-8th Grade
- Large schools: Total enrollment of more than 80 students in 8th grade
- Small schools: Total enrollment of fewer than 80 students in 8th grade
Exams
The competition consists of five division exams. You may participate in only one division test and will have up to one hour to complete the test. Bring two regular No. 2 pencils and a calculator.
For practice exams, please email Nicholas Wulf at nick.wulf@usd.edu.
Division I, First-Year Algebra
Open to students in grades 6-12 who are not currently enrolled in or have not previously taken a geometry or second-year algebra course.
Division II, Geometry
Open to students in grades 6-12 who are not currently enrolled in or have not previously taken a pre-calculus or senior math course.
Division III, Second-Year Algebra
Open to students in grades 6-12 who are not currently enrolled in or have not previously taken a pre-calculus or senior math course.
Division IV, Pre-calculus
Open to students in grades 6-12 who are not currently enrolled in or have not previously taken a calculus course.
Division V, Calculus
Open to any small or large school students in grades 6-12 who are currently enrolled in or have previously taken a calculus course.
