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On June 13, 2024, the Alibaba Global Mathematics Competition announced its finalists, with Jiang Ping, a 17-year-old vocational student from Jiangsu, securing the 12th spot. Among the top 20 finalists, aside from Jiang Ping, all others are from prestigious universities such as Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Cambridge.

The announcement revealed that 801 contestants from 17 countries and regions, with an average age of 22, have made it to the finals. Jiang Ping, a female student from Lianyungang Vocational School in Jiangsu, scored 93 points in the preliminary round, becoming the first vocational student to reach the finals.

The competition, hosted by Alibaba’s charity arm and the DAMO Academy, is known for its open registration and engaging nature, having been held for six consecutive years. This year’s finals will take place from midnight to 24:00 on the 22nd, with contestants choosing any continuous 8-hour period to complete their answers.

Jiang Ping majors in fashion design and has shown a keen interest in mathematics since middle school. Her exceptional performance in the first monthly math test in the vocational school caught the attention of her teacher, Wang Runqiu and reminded Wang of his own journey with mathematics.

He mused that having a mentor during his younger years might have altered his life’s path. “That’s why I want to do everything possible to help them,” he said, “to let them know that a different future is possible.”

Wang Runqiu, who holds a doctor's degree, recommended her to start with “Advanced Mathematics” of Tongji University. When she encountered complex proofs, he suggested Xie Huimin’s “Mathematical Analysis.” As she delved into multivariable calculus, Jiang Ping faced challenges and began studying “Partial Differential Equations.”

Jiang Ping has reached the level of a junior or senior in a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. “When I solve a problem, I feel great joy,” she says.

In her view, both pattern making and tailoring in fashion are related to mathematics, and sometimes, her sudden bursts of design inspiration also stem from mathematical concepts. 

A Hangzhou-based company expressed their eagerness to provide Jiang Ping with free access to digital fashion design software and an internship opportunity at their firm. The representative stated, “Mathematics is the foundational pillar of computer graphics, and graphics are the core technology underlying Style3D. Through our company, one can gain a deep understanding of how mathematical principles catalyze innovation in fashion design within the field of graphics.