A quick entry, before returning to reading applications...
I am perfect today.
Perfect? What do you mean, "perfect," you ask? Well, today is my birthday, and my age is now a perfect number.
Perfect numbers are pretty cool, and have been discussed at least since the time of Euclid. They are also related to Mersenne primes: every Mersenne prime corresponds to exactly one perfect number. If you're even a little bit of a math geek (like me), it's hard not to be fascinated by perfect numbers and Mersenne primes.
Also, I expect that the number of applications we received this year will be published on Tuesday. To make this a little fun, we'll play this as a guessing game: how many freshman applications do you think MIT received this year? Many thanks to fellow admissions blogger Daniel Creasy at the Johns Hopkins University (a fantastic school, btw) for the idea.
To give you some basis to work from, here are our freshman application numbers for the past five years, starting with last year and working backwards: 11,373; 10,440; 10,466; 10,549; 10,664. One guess per person. This is just for fun. No prizes will be awarded, just pride and bragging rights. Oh, and in case you're wondering -- this number has nothing to do with Mersenne primes or perfect numbers (no, we did not receive 33,550,336 applications).
Leave your guesses in the comments, and good luck!
Comments (Closed after 30 days to reduce spam)
Posted by: Stephen on February 4, 2007
Posted by: Sh1fty on February 4, 2007
Posted by: José P. on February 4, 2007
I'd say something around 11000 applications. Well to choose a number ..mmmmmmm 11330.
Posted by: Viksit on February 4, 2007
Posted by: Jen on February 4, 2007
Posted by: Mrinal Monga on February 4, 2007
Posted by: Mrinal Monga on February 4, 2007
Posted by: Mrinal Monga on February 4, 2007
Posted by: Hector M on February 4, 2007
Posted by: Reg on February 4, 2007
Posted by: milena on February 4, 2007
Applicants
11,373..10,440..10,466..10,549..10,664
Difference in applicants
+933..-26..-83..-115
Difference in the difference of applicants
+959..+57..+32
etc
+902..+25
etc
+877
Now.. going backward, we get
+1779..+2738..+3671
which yields a final applicant pool of 15,044!
Of course, the reason for this large prediction is because of the huge jump in applicants last year. Too bad the data wasn't more consistent.
I'll base my actual guess on the EA data, though. There were 3493 applicants EA this year, 2,965 last year. Assuming the ratio between EA and RA stayed consistent between the two years, there'd be a total of 13398 received applications. That's kinda scary.
So yeah. My guess is 13398 applications. Let's hope I'm not right.
Sorry for this ridiculously long post.
Posted by: Adam S. on February 4, 2007
My guess is around 11,300
Posted by: Paritosh on February 4, 2007
Year: # of applicants
2002: 10,664
2003: 10,549
2004: 10,466
2005: 10,440
2006: 11,373
2007: 15,426
2008: 24,197
2009: 39,859
2010: 64,918
...
Within about 150 years, the number of applicants to MIT will far exceed the population of the Earth, which is clear proof that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe, and wants to attend MIT.
Posted by: Greg Courville on February 4, 2007
I say 11,252
Posted by: Amjad on February 4, 2007
Posted by: Meng on February 4, 2007
Posted by: Greg Courville on February 4, 2007
And for the number of freshmen applicants, my guess is around 11,800.
Posted by: Arkajit on February 4, 2007
Posted by: Solomon on February 4, 2007
Hope to be one of the admitted
Posted by: Nedyalko on February 4, 2007
Posted by: Nedyalko on February 4, 2007
I guess 11,534.
Posted by: Jillian on February 4, 2007
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Austin on February 4, 2007
Who knows, it just popped in my head.
I hope for your sake that it's closer to 11,000 than that.
Posted by: Karin on February 4, 2007
Posted by: Shawn on February 4, 2007
Why not?
Posted by: Keri on February 4, 2007
Posted by: Austin on February 4, 2007
Let's instead gamble with the harmonic mean of everyone else's response: I say 11940 freshmen applicants. =)
Posted by: Austin on February 4, 2007
My guess is 11578.
Posted by: Kenechi on February 4, 2007
Posted by: Olivia on February 4, 2007
Happy Birthday!!!...My guess in your little competition would have to be 12,007. Seems reasonable right? =)
Posted by: Camille on February 4, 2007
Happy 28th Matt! :D
Posted by: Justin on February 4, 2007
12256
Posted by: 0 on February 4, 2007
But since it's not, I'll say 13,129
Posted by: Kevin (MA) on February 4, 2007
and happy birthday :D
Posted by: Jenny on February 4, 2007
happy birthday matt!
Posted by: Arthur on February 4, 2007
Posted by: Analiese '10 on February 4, 2007
And happy birthday!
Posted by: Steve on February 4, 2007
anyway, happy birthday!
Posted by: Peter on February 4, 2007
I'm Guessing 11,750
Posted by: Brett on February 4, 2007
Posted by: Scott Mitchell on February 4, 2007
I would guess 13289 applications (or my birthday in the European format)
Posted by: Bianca on February 4, 2007
Posted by: Rose on February 4, 2007
Posted by: Rose on February 4, 2007
Posted by: Christina on February 4, 2007
I close my eyes, and randomly hit the numeric pad 5 times, here we go..........42575........ eek it's too much, but ok, it's my guess
Posted by: The madman who makes people fly on February 4, 2007
Aaaaannnnd, Happy Birthday.
Posted by: Josh V on February 4, 2007
Posted by: Basant on February 4, 2007
My guess : 11,953
Posted by: Prashanth on February 4, 2007
I guess 11,590 (just a random guess).
Posted by: Anna S on February 4, 2007
Posted by: CD on February 4, 2007
Regarding an earlier post about the answer to the universe being 42...I watched a video in physics this year about integration, and apparently the integral of a tea pot is also 42...go figure...
Posted by: Herman N on February 4, 2007
Um, I think it's over 12,000 so I'll just use my birthday for the last 3 digits. 12,413.
And Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Roseanne on February 4, 2007
I guess 11,969 applications.
Posted by: Siddharth on February 4, 2007
Posted by: 0 on February 4, 2007
Posted by: Sarah on February 4, 2007
Thanx for resoure
Posted by: Gomodrilcheg on February 4, 2007
Posted by: leftcoast mom on February 4, 2007
Since they are dedicated to only accepting 30% of their admits in EA, the total accepted will have to be 1300.
(Total number of applicants)x(.111652)=1300
Total number of applicants = 11643.3 [floor it]
11643
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Posted by: Snively on February 4, 2007
Posted by: Ian on February 4, 2007
Posted by: Ian on February 4, 2007
the number of apps may be 10110110010011 in binary!
But is your age just a perfect number, i dont think so! here are some fun facts about your present age:
1.) 28 is also a trianular number,hexagonal number, centered nanogonal number. also keith number.
2.)Last number in Indian magic Square or order 3.
3.)its also a mersenne prime
4.)4th magic number in physics.
5.)its 11100 in binary and 1C in hexa
6.)its XXVIII in romans
7.)number of human teeth w/o molers.
8.)saturn revolves round sun in 28 years.
9.)hey wait! its also on padovan sequence, how can i forget to think about it before? man!
10.)2^2(2^3 - 1) = 28
alrite, i cant remem any other, but really, 28 is the cool number.
Posted by: Arihant Agarwal on February 4, 2007
10575
10700
11000
11229
11237
11252
11288
11300
11330
11476
11523
11578
11590
11621
11621
11643
11667
11750
11750
11800
11867
11940
11953
11969
11999
12000
12007
12013
12120
12128
12134
12250
12256
12273
12345
12413
12430
12568
12685
12783.25
12853
12879
12924
13030
13129
13289
13398
13727
15426
42575
Posted by: Snively on February 4, 2007
Posted by: 0 on February 4, 2007
Posted by: 0 on February 4, 2007
Posted by: Viksit on February 4, 2007
13,056, for no particular reason.
Posted by: Meara on February 4, 2007
My guess is OVERFLOW.
Posted by: 32sII on February 4, 2007
Posted by: Millikan on February 4, 2007
talkin of mersenne prime, the 44th of it and largest till date was discovered by steven boone on 6th sepetember, 2006! and its this:
(2^32,582,657 - 1) or simply M32582657
Posted by: Arihant Agarwal on February 4, 2007
Posted by: 0 on February 5, 2007
I'd say 12459 applicants.
Posted by: Vihang on February 5, 2007
I'll say 12539.
Posted by: Ben on February 5, 2007
Posted by: KAR on February 5, 2007
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jennifer
EMAIL:
IP: 76.169.245.238
URL:
DATE: 02/05/2007 01:39:13 AM
COMMENT_BODY:
My guess is 12,201. I would have said 12,200 but these types of things never seem to be nicely rounded numbers.
Posted by: Justin on February 5, 2007
Posted by: Hopeful on February 5, 2007
Posted by: Karen on February 5, 2007
btw, my guess is 13370
Posted by: Sanja on February 5, 2007
ummm...11560...
Posted by: Anshu on February 5, 2007
Happy Birthday!
I'd say, given the surge in EA Applicants all of a sudden... That MIT's overall count of Undergraduate Applications would go to 13,648... Not because of any calculation lol... but it might be around what should come in...
Its odd, but lets see!
Posted by: Abhinav Mansingks on February 5, 2007
Guessing that your post on perfect numbers is a clue to the answer- 11213
Posted by: Vignan on February 5, 2007
Anyway since the prime occasain of this blog seems to be B'day of Mr. McGann so Happy B'Day. And yes I am not in this guessing game. Since there are already many and Snively's enough for it. Anyway gotta do the job. So....Bye. And please do not guess my name, if you know it then keep it to yourself.
Ah! Gotta move fast.
Posted by: Guess Who? on February 5, 2007
I can't settle on a particular number, but I suspect it'll be between 12500 and 13000.
Posted by: Timothy on February 5, 2007
13435(error +-1%)
Posted by: bhushan lodha on February 5, 2007
Posted by: Shashank on February 5, 2007
Posted by: Shashank on February 5, 2007
Posted by: Sha on February 5, 2007
(that's my lucky number, by the way!!)
oh no, wait its one of my lucky numbers.
Have a lovely day, everybody!!
Posted by: Kelvin on February 5, 2007
so cause nobody else has said it yet I guess it´s
E1337
and happy birthday!!!!
Posted by: vanessa on February 5, 2007
Posted by: nnnoooo on February 5, 2007
And the no. of app. could be - 11,694
HEY ALL I'M comin to MIT this year.
cya.
Posted by: utkarsh sharma on February 5, 2007
My guess: 10,566
Posted by: Ankur M on February 5, 2007
Posted by: Golden Girl on February 5, 2007
$1
and the actual retail value is.....?
Posted by: Anon on February 5, 2007
Posted by: bhushan on February 5, 2007
Posted by: anth on February 5, 2007
Posted by: B on February 5, 2007
I don't know why but i feel its 19,000 or close to it.
Posted by: Sabina on February 5, 2007
Posted by: Sabina on February 5, 2007
And my guess is 17,359 applicants
Posted by: Sarab on February 5, 2007
Huuumm, for the reason I would say 12,321. But for the emotion, without it life is not worthy, I say 12,831.
Posted by: Susan Virgem on February 5, 2007
My guess is around 11432
Posted by: Chessy on February 5, 2007
Belated Birhtday wishes.. I found the concept of Perfect numbers amusing. Thanx for Sharing it!!!
Posted by: Gasthi on February 5, 2007
Sorry guys, but I'm psychic.
Posted by: Kristin on February 5, 2007
I wonder how nobody thought of 12,345...
Posted by: Ina on February 5, 2007
Posted by: Wondering on February 5, 2007
Ankit Chandra
Gaborone, Botswana
Posted by: Ankit Chandra on February 5, 2007
Mmm..I think I will guess 12013...or maybe there were fewer applicants....anyway, I will stay with my guess. And by the way, how many international applicants applied last year??
Posted by: Carlos on February 5, 2007
i like to predict numbers-although its "stupid"
i bet a lot of people here do so now a real guess (no kidding) it´ll be 16,384 cause its a cool number
Posted by: @wondering on February 5, 2007
Happy Birthday, Matt!
Posted by: :-) on February 5, 2007
Happy Birthday, Matt!
Posted by: :-) on February 5, 2007
Posted by: Katherine on February 5, 2007
I wish you a great year.
11213 isn't just a random guess : )
Posted by: Giray on February 5, 2007
Posted by: me on February 5, 2007
12497 applications. Gahh!
Posted by: Elizabeth on February 5, 2007
Posted by: 0 on February 5, 2007
hey, I got a giant container full of red, white, and blue M&Ms; in 7th grade for guessing how many there were. I was...*checking out the yearbook*...13 off. sweet! Considering it took me both arms to carry the some-thousand-M&M-strong container. Therefore guessing numbers does have a purpose.
Posted by: Elizabeth on February 5, 2007
Posted by: Elizabeth on February 5, 2007
My guess is 11936.
Actually, it is the rounded average of these numbers:
11229-11237-11252-11(28)8-11300-11330
11476-11523-11578-11590-11621-11621
11643-11667-11750-11750-11800-11867
11940-11953-11969-11999-12000-12007
12013-12120-121(28)-12134-12250-12256
12273-12345-12413-12430-12568-12685
12783-1(28)53-12879
Question. Find a positive integer which is the answer of following equation:
n^2-5^2n-12*(n,7)=0
Posted by: Saman on February 5, 2007
Posted by: weigs on February 5, 2007
I guess 12,321 applicants--that's just a wild guess.
Posted by: tokenadult on February 6, 2007
Posted by: anoushe on February 6, 2007
Posted by: 0 on February 6, 2007
Posted by: anoushe on February 6, 2007
one and a half months left! i'm hella scared.
(and i already guessed/wished you a happy bday)
Posted by: Josh V on February 6, 2007
Posted by: Anonymous on February 6, 2007
AND I LOVE THE RESPONSE OF 32sII.... overflow..... My Cyber often suffers that ..
Posted by: The madman who makes people fly aka Wandering Alba on February 6, 2007
That said...
I'll pin the number of applicants down as 14,999. I know that the number of applications jumped in amount within the last few years, but by how much I'm not sure... =-----
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: The madman who makes people fly aka Wandering Albatross
EMAIL:
IP: 59.93.199.146
URL: http://travelmagazine.freespaces.com
DATE: 02/06/2007 08:06:43 AM
COMMENT_BODY:
hello brevityiswise, where do you leave in asia?
Posted by: Michelle on February 6, 2007
Posted by: The madman who makes people fly aka Wandering Alba on February 6, 2007
Posted by: Kumseok Jung on February 6, 2007
Happy birthday Matt!
Posted by: Rajko on February 6, 2007
Posted by: Patrick on February 6, 2007
hmmm maybe 12031?
Posted by: sarah on February 6, 2007
Posted by: PRG on February 6, 2007
Posted by: a nony mouse on February 6, 2007
Posted by: Whippie! on February 6, 2007
Posted by: Whippie! on February 6, 2007
Posted by: anxious on February 6, 2007
Posted by: debbie on February 6, 2007
Posted by: Melissa '11 on February 6, 2007
MIT receives just 12000-14000 applications including those from the international pool....surprising...mighty surprising...!!!!!
my guess...then would be..hmmm 15,698
Posted by: kanika on February 7, 2007
11,336
Posted by: katrina on February 7, 2007
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