Formula for Tension? The Famous Integration Bee Lands in the Czech Republic

Two students stand at the blackboard while everyone else watches them in silence. On the screen above their heads hangs a complicated integral. The audience follows every move quietly, some trying to solve the problem from their seats before the contestants do. The tension is palpable.

The first Czech edition of the Integration Bee, inspired by the legendary mathematical battle from MIT, attracted sixty brave students from FNSPE CTU and MFF Charles University - all ready to take on infinite series, substitutions, and integration by parts. Sixteen made it from the online round to the finals. The top four not only received prizes from the event partners but also financial rewards - and the winner took home the Golden Integral. Most importantly, they all gained an experience to remember.

Two at the Board

The format is simple - and that’s what makes it beautiful. Two students face off, each at their own blackboard, same integral, stopwatch running. The first to finish correctly advances. The other is out.

In this Czech premiere, the mathematical arena crowned Michal Janík from Charles University’s Faculty of Mathematics and Physics as the winner. Ondřej Koucký finished second, followed by Matyáš Rozínek and Adam Vyšinský, both from the hosting Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering at CTU.

Imagining the competition as a high-powered show would be misleading. As our colleague Ronald Doboš aptly put it: “Two people stand at the board and calculate, and everyone else quietly watches.” Yet you could feel the tension. The first knockout round was so demanding that almost no one got through it smoothly.

MIT as a Model

The Integration Bee originated at MIT, founded in 1981 by student Andrew Bernoff. Since then, it has become an institution. Every January, the MIT campus hosts the finals - a packed auditorium, a cheering audience, huge blackboards, and contestants in the spotlight.

Similar competitions are now held all over the world. The Czech version made its debut this year, thanks to the enthusiasm of the team at FNSPE - and, we hope, also with a little help from our financial support. We also invited the four winners for a short visit to our office.

What’s Next?

The goal of this year’s event wasn’t only to find the fastest problem-solvers, but to lay the foundation for a new tradition. The feedback showed that it’s worth it - and that there’s room to refine things further: slightly friendlier problems, smoother organization, and maybe even a bigger audience next time.

The interest, drive, and talent are certainly here. Everything begins at the blackboard - and from there, it’s just… ∫(courage) dx.