Two University of New Brunswick undergraduates have claimed first place at the 2025 Mathematics Competition, held in October at the Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science Conference in Cape Breton.
The winning team Irina Xie, a first-year student pursuing a double major in mathematics and physics, and James Petersen, a fourth-year bachelor of science student pursuing an honours in mathematics with minors in physics and computer science finished ahead of 23 other teams representing universities across Atlantic Canada.
UNB students Irina Xie and James Petersen claimed first place at the annual math problem-solving competition held by Science Atlantic, showcasing creativity and teamwork on a regional stage.
Surprisingly, the pair didn't know they'd be working together until the night before the competition.
"We were all having supper at an Indian restaurant, and someone pulled up a random spinner," Xie recalled with a laugh. "We put all our names into the spinner, and that's how we decided the groups."
Despite the last-minute pairing, the two quickly found their rhythm.
"Working with Irina was great," said Petersen. "I couldn't have asked for a better partner for the competition."
The contest, a long-standing tradition dating back decades, challenges teams of two to solve eight complex problems in just three hours.
"To solve these problems, you absolutely need to be creative," said Dr. Nicholas Touikan, associate professor in UNB's department of mathematics and statistics, who helps prepare students through a weekly problem-solving club.
"Math is rigid, but finding solutions requires thinking outside the box."
Both students credit the club's practice sessions for sharpening their skills.
"These kinds of questions are usually more complex and require brainstorming," said Xie.
Petersen agreed, noting that success comes from ingenuity rather than memorization.
"The difficulty is not in knowing advanced mathematical theory, but rather in being creative with tricks to better understand and prove the problems," he said. "This often requires lateral thinking, as problems cannot be solved simply by following a procedure."
UNB's team scored 42 out of 60 points to secure the win a testament to their persistence and problem-solving ability. The university has a strong history at the event and last won in 2019.
Other UNB students also took part in the competition and are active members of the weekly problem-solving club: Levi Laird and Sudhir Nanthakumar, both first-year students, and Hayden Lees, a fourth-year student who, like Petersen, joined the team while still in high school.
"They're a fun group of people," said Touikan, noting that Irina was also involved in the club before starting her degree.
Beyond the thrill of victory, Touikan emphasizes the broader value of these experiences.
"Competitions like this develop skills that researchers need creativity, flexibility and the ability to tackle problems no one has solved before."
