Published on May 30, 2025
The Academy is known for many unique and long-standing traditions that take place each summer, one of those being the Problem of the Day. Each June, scholars looking to exercise their mathematician muscles try their hand at solving the Problem of the Day, which is posted on a wooden board in the lobby of Mark Twain. As the name suggests, there is a new mathematical riddle to solve each morning, and the answers are revealed the following day. Anyone can participate – you don’t have to be a mathematical genius, just willing to try and sometimes think creatively.
Paul Rahmoeller, who was a faculty member from 1985 up until his retirement after the 2022 Academy, was one of those responsible for bringing the Problem of the Day to life during that very first Academy. During a brainstorming session with other faculty, Paul suggested creating a daily puzzle for scholars. The first prizes awarded were t-shirts that Paul ordered himself.
One of the most impressive parts of this MSA tradition is that almost all the Problems of the Day, except for the first problem of each Academy, have been entirely new problems every summer. If you do the math, that’s almost 800 Problems of the Day since 1985.
Paul carried on this tradition almost every year up until his retirement, then he passed the torch to other faculty members.
To celebrate 40 years of problems, we have a special Problem of the Day that you can only do in person at our 40th Anniversary Celebration on June 21st. All you have to do is show up at Big Group! Between now and June 21, work out your strategy to the problem below, but don’t tell anyone! You’ll receive the rest of the information when you show up!
