Math Day at the Beach 2024: A Recap

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 UHS Math Club Demolishes the Competition at Math 

Day at the Beach 2024


An Article Written as Requested for the UHS Students and PTA by:

Aryan Mukherjee


The UHS Math Club sent 3 teams to compete in the Math Day at the Beach event hosted at California State University Long Beach on March 23rd, 2024. Team A in the upper division achieved a resounding victory, winning first place and having 4 of the 6 students on the team earn a perfect score on the individual exam. Additionally, Team B1 procured a silver medal in the team event with 1 perfect score individually.


Now, for the 2nd year in a row, UHS brings home the coveted trophy for this event and showcases to all of Southern California just how refined the limitless capabilities of the Trojans are.


"[I am] very proud of this group... The perpetual trophy is back where it belongs, in our display case in the front office," team coach and head Math Club advisor Eric Shulman states.


As far as logistics are concerned, the competition was graciously hosted and sponsored by the CSULB Mathematics Department, and included meals, beverages, T-shirts, and souvenirs, with UHS’s attendance at the event being a multi-decade long tradition.


Just like in the previous year, the multitude of perfect scorers meant that students like Feodor Yevtushenko and Timi Fang had to be pitted against each other in a buzzer-beater style countdown round to break the tie and determine which of them would go on to represent UHS on the podium. In the end, Mr. Fang prevailed and took home a 4th place award individually.


“It was definitely unexpected to qualify for the semi-finals of the round, especially when I was up against an opponent as strong as Feodor. It was a great experience overall,” Mr. Fang recounted in response to being asked about his experience in this event as a senior. 


Another aspect of the competition that many students found to be incredibly interesting this year was the guest speaker event where a professor came to present a lecture on an advanced concept focusing on an application of high-level mathematics. This year’s guest speaker was Dr. Lihan Wang, a Calculus teacher at the host university who gave a lecture titled “Hear the Sound of the Drum”.


“I personally found the lecture to be riveting, and valued the emphasis being on a practical use of mathematics particularly with the Richter scale frequency comparison. I enjoy being able to sculpt my passion for math into something tangible that can make a positive impact on the real world, and it's the opportunity to hear lectures like this that helps me know that I’m on the right path,” sophomore Aryan Mukherjee expressed about the quality of this year’s program.


The lecture consisted of an in-depth application of math and physics, discussing how specific eigenvalues can be used with a setup of semi-differential equations and linear algebra in order to calculate the frequency, and thus sound, that a drum emits based solely on its shape.


Aside from all of the math, many of the team members reciprocated that they had fun bonding over the various campus activities that transpired throughout the day. From the spirited coach’s competition to the mind-boggling puzzle and merchandise showcase to the fake liar’s poker game during lunch, the event was a multi-faceted success and a day that the team and its constituents will likely remember for much time to come.


“Just like nothing rhymes with ‘orange’, nobody can beat University High School,” lead direct Dr. Olga Korosteleva asserted in conclusion to the event.

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