Problems

	CONTESTS	PROBLEMS	ARTICLES	REGISTER	ABOUT	CONTACT

	Problem Title: Are Fingerprints Unique?
	Year: 2004
	Student Level: Undergraduate
	Source: MCM
	Commentary: Yes (3)
	Student Papers: Yes (3)

	Problem
	It is a commonplace belief that the thumbprint of every human who has ever lived is different. Develop and analyze a model that will allow you to assess the probability that this is true. Compare the odds (that you found in this problem) of misidentification by fingerprint evidence against the odds of misidentification by DNA evidence.

	Commentary
	Judge's Commentary: The Outstanding Fingerprints Papers Michael Tortorella Dept. of Industrial and Systems Engineering Rutgers University Practitioner's Commentary: The Outstanding Fingerprints Papers Mary Beeton A.F.I.S. Technician Durham Regional Police Service Editor's Commentary: Fingerprint Identification Paul J. Campbell Mathematics and Computer Science Beloit College

	Student Papers
	The Myth of "The Myth of Fingerprints" Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA

	Can't Quite Put Our Finger On It University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

	Not Such a Small Whorl After All University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO

Problem Title: Are Fingerprints Unique?