Math is full of challenges and rewards by its very nature, but these are magnified when you put it at the center of a competition. While it may not receive the glamorous media attention of modern sports, competitive mathematics is an increasingly popular form of recreation. Here are a few of the active and ongoing competitions you can engage in.

The Canadian Mathematical Society features a number of different competitions. Of note are the Canadian Open Mathematical Challenge, which takes place annually in November, and is open to all high school students; the Canadian Mathematical Olympiad, where qualifiers from the Open and winners from other mathematics competitions are invited to face off for a large cash prize; and the International Mathematics Olympiad.

Unsolved Problems is a site that presents deeply complex mathematical issues that have yet to be resolved. Much of the informational available is presented directly on the website, and some of the problems feature a reward for the first to complete a proof or find a solution. A total prize pool of seven million dollars is available for any who solve these major problems.

The New Brunswick Math Competition is highly beneficial for both students and schools due to its structure. In addition to awarding prizes for top competitors, the framework utilized allows Universities to get in touch with students reaching the end of the secondary school education.

International Mathematics Talent Search is a group devoted to finding the best and the brightest within the field. This forty-four round problem solving competition helps find to locate these great minds, and often directs them to more exclusive competitions, higher education, and greater opportunities.

America has its own math contest, the MAA (American Mathematics Competition), which provides an in-depth online forum and a large number of useful resources for competitors and potential competitors. This competition includes regional and national stages, allowing competitive math gurus to start their journey to triumph more locally.

There are also many local competitions. These are generally sponsored by Universities, and have either cash prizes or award scholarships. There are online lists of regional math competitions in North America.