Mathematics Competitions 2020
2020 Mathematics Competitions
During the year, 203 students from all years took part in the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust individual challenges, along with students from other schools in the UK. These competitions consist of a series of challenging multiple choice maths problems, where the use of a calculator is not allowed.
In February Year 9 and 10 students competed, achieving 41 certificates (27 Bronze, 12 Silver and 2 Gold). Two students were invited to take part in the follow-on round. The Years 7 and 8 challenge was due to take place in April, but lockdown meant that this couldn’t happen in the usual way. The 97 Year 7 and 8 students who took up the challenge entered on-line at home. They achieved 47 certificates (33 Bronze, 10 Silver and 4 Gold). More recently, 19 students from Years 12 and 13 and one student from Year 11 took part in the hardest challenge. They achieved 13 certificates (6 Bronze, 4 Silver and 3 Gold). Three students were invited to take part in the follow-on round with one student narrowly missing the first qualifying round for the UK Maths Olympiad team.
Gold certificate winners
Year 7
Ruth Bell
Sophia Patsavellas
Methiyan Rajalingam – Best in School
Year 8
Ollie Tolchard – Best in Year
Year 10
Kelvin Yu – Best in School and follow-on round
Sau Hua Yip – Follow-on round
Year 11
Kelvin Yu – Best in School and follow-on round
Year 12
Tommy Jenkins – Best in Year and follow-on round
Year 13
Daniel Rowland – Best in Year and follow-on round
Try for yourselves:
Year 7 and 8 question
The digits of both the two-digit numbers in the first calculation below have been reversed to give the two-digit numbers in the second calculation.
The answers to the two calculations are the same.
62 ×13 = 806 26 × 31 = 806
For which one of the calculations below is the same thing true?
25 × 36 34 × 42 54 × 56 42 × 48 32 × 43
Year 9 and 10 question
The Knave of Hearts stole some tarts. He ate half of them, and half a tart more. The Knave of Diamonds ate half of what was left, and half a tart more. Then the Knave of Clubs ate half of what remained, and half a tart more. This left just one tart for the Knave of Spades. How many tarts did the Knave of Hearts steal?
63 31 19 17 15
Year 11, 12 and 13 question
Two circles C1 and C2 have their centres at the point (3,4) and touch a third circle, C3. The centre of C3 is at the point (0,0) and its radius is 2. What is the sum of the radii of the two circles C1 and C2?
6 7 8 9 10
