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Math Jams
Math Jams are free online discussions hosted by Art of Problem Solving for a variety of purposes, including:
- Informational sessions about Art of Problem Solving classes.
- Review of the AMC and AIME competitions.
- Introductions to new topics in math and other areas of study.
- Special events, such as our annual discussions with admissions officers and professors from outstanding universities such as MIT, Carnegie Mellon, Stanford, and Duke.
To attend a Math Jam, simply sign in to Art of Problem Solving just before the Math Jam begins, and click on the Classroom bar that will appear on the screen. The Math Jam classroom will open 10 minutes before the Math Jam begins. (See Classroom System Requirements)
Our Math Jams are held in the same online classroom as our online courses. Click here to read more about how our online classroom works.
Participants in Math Jams must be signed in as Art of Problem Solving Community members to access the Math Jams. Click here to or set up a new account. The Math Jams and Community membership are free.
Join our mailing list to receive announcements about new Math Jams.
Speed of Sound Physics Jam
Instructor: Mike AmarillasDifficulty Level: 1* (Introductory math)
7:30 pm ET
We'll discuss the first attempts to measure the speed of sound, including a famous echo-based experiment by Isaac Newton. We'll analyze the behavior of a pendulum to see why it was the key to his clever measurement method. Lastly, we'll investigate a historical music venue with a notoriously bad echo, to learn how audio engineers used the speed of sound to solve the problem. This Physics Jam is a sample of the difficulty and instructional approach of the AoPS Middle School Physics course (coming 2026) but does not directly repeat any course content.
2026 Spring Classes Math Jam
Instructor: Tynan OchseDifficulty Level: 0* (No math)
7:30 pm ET
Art of Problem Solving instructors discuss upcoming AoPS online courses. We'll work through a few sample problems, discuss how the courses work, and answer questions about the courses.
Game Jam: Kraken's Treasure
Instructor: Tynan OchseDifficulty Level: 1* (Introductory math)
7:30 pm ET
We'll compete to figure out the weights of several mystery coins in this mathematical game. Players will use algebraic thinking and logic to deduce weights of coins, while remembering to keep our scale balanced.
2026 National Math Camps Info Session
Instructor: AoPS StaffDifficulty Level: 0* (No math)
7:30 pm ET
Dr. Sarah Trebat-Leder, Program Director for National Math Camps, will introduce two new summer math programs for students ages 11–14: Camp Conway at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, CA, and Camp Sierpinski at William Peace University in Raleigh, NC. Both camps will offer two 2-week sessions in summer 2025. Join us to learn more and ask questions about these exciting new opportunities!
Fun with Factorials
Instructor: Tynan OchseDifficulty Level: 4* (Intermediate math)
7:30 pm ET
What does stumbling across an interesting math problem look like? And from there, what does it look like to play with your math problem? In this Math Jam we will explore a problem involving factorials, and discuss how mathematicians think about their problems. On the surface this factorial problem seems straightforward, but by digging a little deeper we uncover a numerical mystery that's just begging to be solved... potentially by you!
* Difficulty Ratings
| 0 | No Math. Appropriate for all audiences. |
| 1-3 | Beginning Problem Solvers. Middle School, Algebra, Geometry, MATHCOUNTS, AMC 8 |
| 4-6 | Intermediate Problem Solvers. AMC10, AMC 12 |
| 7-10 | Advanced Problem Solvers. AIME, USAMO |
