On February 8, the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics at Vilnius University hosted the annual MIF Student Mathematics Olympiad. Participants had four hours to solve four challenging problems. The competition was won by Yunus Emre Tuzcu, a master’s student in Mathematics, who scored 33 out of 40 points. Originally from Turkey, Yunus came to Vilnius University as an Erasmus student in 2021-2022. Lithuania's nature and culture impressed him so much that he returned for full-time studies.
The competition was highly competitive, with students showcasing their mathematical prowess. The second place was won by Laurynas Truskauskas, a bachelor’s student from the Faculty of Physics, who scored 32 points. Third place was earned by Ernestas Liekis, a bachelor’s student in Information Technology, who earned 21 points.
Yunus Emre Tuzcu, the winner of the Olympiad, shared his insights and experiences regarding the competition and his academic journey. "I have always been interested in Mathematics. While studying Mechanical Engineering, I realised that my true passion was Math, which led me to pursue a master’s degree in this field," he explained. This was his first mathematics competition, but problem-solving had always been a part of his academic interests. "Since my bachelor’s studies, I occasionally solved problems from Math Olympiads like IMO or Putnam. When I saw the invitation for this competition, I got excited and thought I should try it."
To prepare for the Olympiad, Yunus reviewed past problems and their solutions to identify valuable methods and approaches. Reflecting on the competition, he described the issues as "elegant and carefully selected." "They require a different approach, something that anyone with strong Math basics can understand, yet not trivial to come up with. Unlike many other competitions, there is no need to memorise fancy tricks or formulas," he noted.
Yunus highlighted the rigorous academic workload of the Lithuanian education system. "In Turkey, students often do not receive enough homework or practical tasks, leading to limited skills and preparation. In Lithuania, students are regularly challenged with homework, presentations, and practical applications," he observed. Looking ahead, Yunus hopes to build his career in Lithuania. "My primary plan is to find a job in the Mathematics or IT field here," he concluded.
His victory in the Olympiad showcases his dedication and talent in Mathematics, setting an excellent example for students pursuing their academic and professional aspirations in Lithuania.
This Olympiad has been organized since 2005. The winners are invited to the Vilnius University student team that participates in the Vojtech Jarnik International Student Mathematics Olympiad.
One of this year’s MIF Student Mathematics Olympiad problems:
There are 20 clubs in a football league of some country. It turned out that after 19 rounds, when any two clubs played one game between themselves, the total number of points collected by all 20 teams is 554. (In football, after a game between two teams is finished, the winner gets 3 points, the loser gets 0 points, while both teams get 1 point each in case their game ends in a draw.)
Find the minimum number of clubs such that each of them has at least one draw.
More information about the MIF Student Mathematics Olympiad, including problems and their solutions, can be found here.