NZ students join the world having fun with maths!

Media Release

5 August 2009 Competition date: Thursday 6 August 2009

Today New Zealand students join the world having fun with maths!

The 32nd annual Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) will take place on Thursday 6 August in primary and secondary schools all over Australia. They will be joined by students from 42 countries across South East Asia, the Pacific, Europe, and Africa.

Students from Year 3 to Year 12 compete on the same day, making it one of the largest single events on the New Zealand education calendar. The Competition has become a truly international event, attracting approximately 13 million entries since it began in 1978. AMC is also the first and believed to be the
largest Competition of its kind in the world, with more than 1100 prizes and 60 medals awarded annually.

Professor Peter Taylor, Executive Director of the not-for-profit Australian Mathematics Trust, which administers the Competition, said, “The AMC is about promoting the practical application of mathematics in an enjoyable way
to the average student, often uncovering talent outside the curriculum. Although the AMC is the Trust’s best-known activity, we also deliver more advanced maths programs as well as a variety of related activities in informatics (computer science) and statistics.”

Students who are outstanding both within their state or country and overall in the Competition, are awarded medals at special annual ceremonies. This year awards will be presented to the New Zealand medallists in Palmerston North in late September.

The Trust is based at the University of Canberra and the Competition is also supported by the Canberra Mathematical Association.

The following sample question appeared in the 2008 Junior paper (Years 7 and 8):
SAMPLE PROBLEM:

At half-time in a soccer match between Newcastle and Melbourne, the score was Newcastle 1, Melbourne 0.
Three goals were scored in the second half. Which of the following could not be the result of the match?

(A) The match was drawn (B) Newcastle won by 2 goals
(C) Melbourne won by 2 goals (D) Newcastle won by 1 goal (E) Newcastle won by 4 goals

Answer (D)

SOLUTION:
Alternative 1
The score at half-time was Newcastle 1, Melbourne 0. Three goals were scored in the second half, so the possibilities for the score at full-time are:
Newcastle 4, Melbourne 0; Newcastle 3, Melbourne 1; Newcastle 2, Melbourne 2; and Newcastle 1, Melbourne 3.
So it is not possible for Newcastle to win by 1 goal.

Alternative 2
A total of 4 goals were scored in the match. So, Newcastle and Melbourne either both scored an even number of goals or both scored an odd number. So, (D) is impossible.

ends

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