Sum achievement! Sixth-Form mathematicians win team competition

QE have won the regional heat of a national Mathematics competition and the team will now go on to the national final in the New Year.

The four Year 12 boys scored 174 out of a possible 180 points – 97 per cent – to take first place, beating off the challenge from 19 other teams in the Senior Team Maths Challenge. Second place went to St Helen’s School and joint-third place to Watford Grammar School for Girls and Merchant Taylors’ School in Northwood, which hosted the Middlesex regional heat.

Team captain Yuta Tsuchiya, Brian Kong, Aditya Ramachandran and Nitharsan Sathiyalingam were selected to take part in the competition, which is run jointly by the UK Mathematics Trust (UKMT) and the Further Mathematics Support Programme.

The challenge combines mathematical, communication and teamwork skills, offering pupils an enjoyable way to express and develop their love of Mathematics.

Assistant Head of Mathematics Wendy Fung said: “The boys had a fun afternoon competing with, and meeting, other keen young mathematicians; they are delighted to have qualified for the national final.”

Captain Yuta, who recently qualified for the British Mathematical Olympiad with a perfect score in the UKMT’s Senior Challenge for individual mathematicians, praised his fellow QE competitors for their teamwork in the Team Maths Challenge.

The team members were each given a book prize – a choice between The Music of The Primes, by Marcus du Sautoy and The Problem Solver’s Handbook by Andrew Jobbings.

The national final takes place on Tuesday 2nd February 2016 at the Royal Horticultural Halls in Westminster.