This annual competition is jointly organized by the Fédération française des jeux mathématiques (FFJM) and the Société de calcul mathématique (SCM), on a topic chosen by the SCM. Each topic involves solving a "real-life" problem—that is, a problem of general interest whose mathematical content has been simplified. There are two categories of entrants: individuals and groups of high school or university students. The proposed topic generally requires several months of work. Participants submit their work, in French or English, as a PDF file. A total of 2,000 euros in prize money is on offer.
The topics proposed over the past nine years have been:
• 2008–2009: designing a city bus network;
• 2009–2010: designing an electricity distribution network;
• 2011–2012: finding a better driving route;
• 2012–2013: fighting forest fires in Siberia;
• 2013–2014: verifying an industrial process;
• 2014–2015: uncertainties in GPS positioning;
• 2015–2016: false alarms in a sensor network;
• 2016–2017: from Earth to the Moon;
• 2017–2018: distributing goods.
The materials for the 2018–2019 competition (Traffic Jams in Houston, Texas) are available at **www.ffjm.org**, and entries may be submitted until April 30, 2019.
