Fermi Questions

Welcome to Fermi Questions! In this event, teams provide answers to a series of “Fermi Questions”; science related questions that seek fast, rough estimates of a quantity, which is either difficult or impossible to measure directly.

The information below should not be interpreted as an extension of the rules. You can find free online copies of the current rules for download on the 2024 Rules page of the Science Olympiad website. The official rules in the current Rules Manual take precedence.

RESOURCES & LINKS

• 2012 Training Handout (Word)
• 2012 Training Powerpoint
• University of Maryland Fermi Problems website

SO STORE MATERIALS

• 2020 National Test Packet

PRACTICE PROBLEMS & TESTS

• Practice Test & Answer Key - 2023 Beachwood High School Invitational
• Practice Test - 2023 Columbia University Invitational
• Practice Test - 2023 University of Michigan Invitational
• Practice Test - 2023 MIT Invitational
• Practice Test - 2023 Northmont Invitational
• Practice Test - 2023 Ohio State University Invitational
• Practice Test - 2023 Carolina Science Olympiad Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 UT Austin Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 Rickards Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 Highlands Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 BullSO Invitational

EVENT SUPERVISOR RESOURCES 

In addition to the resources on the Event Supervisors page, Fast Facts Event Supervisors should be sure to use the following resources:

• 2023 Score Sheet and Team Checklist
• Event Logistics Manual

CAREER CONNECTIONS

• US News and World Report - What can you do with a math degree?
• CareerOneStop - Actuaries Career Video
• US Bureau of Labor Statistics - Actuary
• US Bureau of Labor Statistics - Mathematicians and Statisticians