Students often struggle to connect math with the real world. Word problems—a combination of words, numbers, and mathematical operations—can be a perfect vehicle to take abstract numbers off the page.

The Hardest Math Problem Contest is an annual competition that challenges students in grades 6-8 to solve multistep, grade-appropriate math problems with real-world situations and engaging characters.

Proposed changes to North Carolina's math standards would shake up requirements for upperclassmen in the state’s public high schools and emphasize real-world problem-solving in all grade levels. The ...