Brazil wins 19 medals in international math competition

Six students from the Mathematics Department of the Scientific Technical Center of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) won six medals at the 31st International Mathematics Competition for University Students (IMC), held in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, from August 5–11.

The medals bagged by the PUC-Rio team gave the university first place among the six Brazilian institutions that took part in the event in this edition. There were two gold medals, corresponding to two first places in the competition for Brazil, as well as two silver and two bronze medals. Miguel Batista and Luis Felipe Pestana Giglio won gold.

Nineteen medals were won by Brazilian university students at the IMC altogether—three gold, nine silver and seven bronze. The other participating Brazilian institutions were the Getulio Vargas Foundation of Rio de Janeiro (FGV Rio), the University of São Paulo (USP), the Technological Institute of Aeronautics (ITA), the Federal University of Ceará (IFC), and the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE).

Preparation

In an interview with Agência Brasil, Miguel Batista said that the team members did long-term preparation on their own, and short-term preparation as a group, when they met weekly at PUC to solve problems. This was the fourth time the student had taken part in the competition. He won bronze in the first three. Winning the gold medal at IMC 2024 was an important milestone for him, because this was his last participation as a university student, since he has already graduated in Mathematics. “It was really thrilling.”

Challenges

In the competition, students are challenged to solve algebra, geometry, and analysis problems, and are given four hours a day to solve the questions. Prizes are awarded according to the points earned, so contestants do not just get a gold, silver, or bronze. PUC-Rio students have been winning IMC medals since 2008. There have now been 44 medals—11 gold, 16 silver, and 17 bronze.

Professor Sinésio Pesco, director of the Mathematics Department at PUC-Rio, pointed out that the university has sought to offer its students the chance to take part in the annual World Math Olympiad. “As a matter of fact, this has been one of the reasons why they come to study with us, in addition to the fact that we are also recognized as a center of excellence in mathematics.”