Mathematical model is a kind of simulation, which is an abstract and concise description of the essential attributes of practical topics with mathematical symbols, mathematical formulas, programs and graphics. It can not only explain some objective phenomena, but also predict the future development law, and also provide an optimal strategy or a better strategy in a sense for controlling the development of a phenomenon. Generally speaking, mathematical model is not a direct copy of real problems, and its establishment often requires people to observe and analyze real problems in depth and carefully, and also requires people to use all kinds of mathematical knowledge flexibly and skillfully. This process of abstracting mathematical models from practical problems with applied knowledge is called mathematical modeling.

Origin entered universities in western countries.

Mathematical modeling was introduced to some universities in western countries in the 1960s and 1970s, and several universities in China also introduced mathematical modeling into classrooms in the early 1980s. After more than 20 years' development, most undergraduate colleges and many junior colleges have offered various courses and lectures on mathematical modeling, which has opened up an effective way to cultivate students' ability to analyze and solve practical problems by using mathematical methods.

The mathematical modeling competition for college students first appeared in the United States in 1985. 1989, under the organization and promotion of several teachers engaged in mathematical modeling education, students from several domestic universities began to participate in American competitions, and their enthusiasm became higher and higher. In recent years, the number of participating schools and teams has accounted for a considerable proportion. It can be said that the Mathematical Modeling Competition was born in the United States, blossomed in China and achieved fruitful results.

in China

1992, the Chinese society of industrial and applied mathematics organized a mathematical modeling league for college students in the national city of 10, with 3 14 teams from 74 universities participating. The leaders of the Ministry of Education discovered, fostered and cultivated this new thing in time, and decided that the Ministry of Education of People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Chinese Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics would jointly host a national mathematical modeling competition for college students every year starting from 1994. In the past ten years, the scale of this competition has increased at an average annual rate of more than 25%.

In 2009, there were 1 137 colleges and universities and 15046 teams (including team A 12276 and team B 2770) in 33 provinces/municipalities/autonomous regions (including Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions) in China, with 4500 college students of various majors.