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College Team Place 2nd at Mathex

August 28, 2015 at 1:05 PM

Over 200 teams of the best Year 7-10 mathematical brains from schools around Auckland lined up at the ASB stadium over two nights this week for the annual Casio Auckland Mathematical Association Mathex Challenge. The competition was stiff but we are pleased to report that the College Year 10A team comprising Andrew Chen, Daniel Mar, Callum Lee, Ben Staite were placed second in their age group of over 100 teams! The College has placed in the top three at Mathex on many occasions over the years.

Mathex is an exciting night for the students where teams of four are posed 20 tricky mathematical questions in an attempt to gain a full score of 100 points. There is a twist in the competition! This is not is not a traditional sit down and write a test. Nor is it an online ‘choose the correct answer.’ Mathex not only requires quick team thinking and accurate calculations, it needs a team member who can run – fast!

The runner from the team must first complete a sprint loop around the stadium to collect the question, return to the team table for the team to answer it and then run back to the marker with the team’s answer.  Phew! The next question isn’t handed out until a correct answer is achieved. If the answer was wrong, the runner has to go back to the team! So the teams are not only pitting their mental skills but also trying to beat the clock.

The College sent two teams in each age group. The Year 9A team scored a full 100% but weren’t quite speedy enough, ending up in 5th place. Andrew, Daniel, Callum and Ben won the Year 9 division last year and were hoping for a second win this week but Auckland Grammar School just pipped them on this occasion.  

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