Challenge 24 Competition

The Challenge 24 Competition is a mathematics competition for 4th-, 5th-, 6th-, and 7th-graders, hosted each spring by the SBU Department of Mathematics. Participants play the 24 Game, which involves a deck of cards, each showing four whole numbers between 1 and 9. When presented with a card, the players strive to be the first to combine the four numbers to make 24 using only addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. All four numbers must be used once and only once, but it is not necessary to use all four operations. Many cards have more than one solution. The game can be surprisingly challenging, but the participants in Challenge 24 are quite good, having previously won competitions within their own schools.

The 24 Game was developed in 1988 by Robert Sun, who founded the company, Suntex International Inc., that markets it. Each card in the 24 Game is marked with one dot, two dots, or three dots to indicate its level of difficulty. Generally, the higher the number of dots, the more challenging the card. Below is a two-dot card containing the numbers 2, 3, 4, and 4. Try making 24 with the numbers on this card. Remember: you must use each of the numbers 2, 3, 4, and 4 exactly once and the only operations you may use are addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. (Note that the number 4 appears twice on this card. Since you must use each of the numbers 2, 3, 4, and 4 exactly once, you will end up using 4 twice.) You do not need to use all four of the operations and you may use an operation more than once. There are three essentially different solutions for this card---can you find all of them? Clicking the buttons to the right of the card will reveal these solutions.

Solution: Solution: Solution:

The Department of Mathematics needs about 30 student volunteers to run the Challenge 24 Competition. If you would like to work with kids who love math, sign up to help us! Elementary education majors are particularly encouraged to volunteer. When the 2009 Competition is being planned next spring, volunteers will be solicited by its coordinator, Dr. Doug Cashing (dcashing@sbu.edu), by email and in mathematics classes.

 C24  The 2008 Challenge 24 Competition  C24

The 2008 Competition was held on Saturday, March 29. There were 67 students from 12 schools attending. The participating schools were Cuba Elementary, Cuba-Rushford Middle School, Fretz Middle School, Hinsdale Central School, Boardmanville Elementary, Ivers J. Norton Elementary, Washington West Elementary, Otto-Eldred, St. Bernard School, Salamanca Middle School, School Street School, and Smethport.

 C24  The Award Ceremony  C24

Medals, in the traditional colors of gold, silver, and bronze, were given to the first, second, and third place students in each grade level.

4th Grade: Brooke Winicki of Cuba Elementary placed first, Madison Forrest of Boardmanville Elementary took second, and Heath Stewart of Otto-Eldred placed third.

5th Grade: Monica Moses of Boardmanville Elementary took first, Alexis Sova of Washington West Elementary placed second, and Ally Rakus of Boardmanville Elementary placed third.

6th Grade: Michael Williamson of Cuba-Rushford Middle School took first place, Adam Dowd of Cuba-Rushford Middle School came in second, and Emily Minner of Salamanca Middle School took third.

7th Grade: Matthew Bysiek of Hinsdale Central School took top honors, Dylan Lewis of Cuba-Rushford Middle School placed second, and Autumn Shugars of Fretz Middle School placed third.

The 2007 Challenge 24 Competition

The 2006 Challenge 24 Competition

The 2005 Challenge 24 Competition

The 2004 Challenge 24 Competition