Lehigh Student Places 51st in Premier Putnam Mathematics Competition; Lehigh Team Ranks 26th

The Putnam Competition is an extremely challenging exam, consisting of 12 questions worth 10 points each. About half of the participants score a zero. However, Chueluecha received 63 points, earning him a spot in the top 100. Mavin Buranasilp ’21 scored a 22, ranking 436th, and Eric Wolf ’20 scored an 18, ranking 627th. As Lehigh’s top three finishers, they constituted the Lehigh University team.

Prior to the competition, Chueluecha took a problem-solving course with Lehigh mathematics professor Steve Weintraub, specifically designed to prepare students for the Putnam exam.

“[The Putnam Competition is] mostly a test of cleverness rather than a test of advanced mathematical knowledge,” Weintraub said. “The problem-solving course is designed to teach students various different mathematical techniques, some of which are likely to occur in both problem-solving in general and on the Putnam competition in particular.”

Chueluecha said he had competed in many math competitions before taking the Putnam exam.

“I started my math journey when I was 5 years old,” Chueluecha said. “We had a small competition in my primary school, and I got first place. I took...the national math competition [in Thailand] was when I was in grade five. I got a gold medal.”

Chueluecha’s passion for math led him to continue competing, with the ultimate hope of earning a spot as a high school student at the International Mathematical Olympiad. Comparable to the Olympic Games, the International Mathematical Olympiad is an annual competition between high school students from over 100 countries. As a senior in high school, he reached his goal, earning a bronze medal—a high achievement. Because of his ranking, Chueluecha received a scholarship to attend college in the United States.

Furthermore, planning and strategizing played a role in Chueluecha’s success: He analyzed past Putnam patterns and applied them when he took the test.

“I know that the first question is easy,” Chueluecha said. “So I must do it first and then I should do it very quickly. [After that] it doesn't matter if I do problem two, or problem six. They have the same difficulty.”

Chueluecha looks forward to attending graduate school, getting a Ph.D. in math and becoming a professor. He plans to return to his native Thailand to teach.

Story by Tabitha Nowak