Maths Mania Amps up in Kiwi Schools

Maths Mania Amps up in Kiwi Schools Ahead of this Year’s Biggest Maths Comp

Australian Mathematics Competition, Thursday 30 July 2015 Inspired by New Zealand’s positive result at the recent International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), students in New Zealand will join hundreds of thousands of students from all over the world to take part in the 38th annual Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) sponsored by the Commonwealth Bank.

Students of all levels of ability, from all types of schools in vastly different locations right across the country, will take up the challenge and sit a 75-minute secondary paper or a 60-minute primary paper containing some quirky questions with an emphasis on fun and problem solving.

The AMC is Australia’s original classroom-based mathematics competition with around 14.5 million entries since it commenced in 1978. The AMC awards more than 1000 prizes and 70 medals annually. A truly international event, there are entries from more than 30 countries across South-East Asia, the Pacific, Europe, and Africa. This year saw the highest ever number of entries from the Philippines and ongoing strong numbers in Iran.

Adjunct Professor Mike Clapper, Executive Director of the not-for-profit Australian Mathematics Trust (AMT) which administers the competition, said, ‘The New Zealand team at this year’s IMO who achieved commendable results commenced their journey to international success through their participation in the Australian Maths Competition’.

‘The competition aims to encourage and enthuse all students about studying maths to improve their future career options. But it also identifies the most talented, who can then go on to a series of enrichment programs that nurture their special ability and may lead to success, such as for this year’s New Zealand IMO team, who came 49th in the world out of 104 teams, winning two Bronze medals and receiving four honourable mentions’, he added.

Students who are outstanding both within their state or country and overall in the competition are awarded medals at annual ceremonies. This year the New Zealand AMC Medal ceremony is scheduled for 16 October in Christchurch. The Australian Mathematics Trust is under the trusteeship of the University of Canberra. Sample problems and solutions from previous AMC papers can be found at www.amt.edu.au

ENDS

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