Sibling success at Maths Pairs competition

MCS Big School was alive with mathematical thinking yesterday as 32 pairs of our pupils took part in our annual Maths Pairs competition. Open to pupils from Upper Fourth to Upper Sixth, regardless of their maths group, the event offered a fun opportunity to tackle problems together. All places were filled within three days, with further pupils joining a waiting list.

The 45-minute competition saw pairs work on up to three questions at a time, unlocking a new problem only after solving one. Questions covered combinatorics, number theory and geometry, with three attempts at each answer and fewer points awarded on successive attempts. One problem asked how many triangles could be formed from seven points in a plane, with no three lying on the same straight line.

The competition began with a rush of activity as pupils solved the easier questions, hurried to have their answers marked and collected their next challenge from tables around the hall. As the problems became harder, the bustle gave way to a hush of concentration. Speed alone would not secure victory: a hastily submitted wrong answer could prove costly.

Siblings Victoria (Lower Sixth) and Liam (Upper Fourth) took first place with 107 points out of a possible 120, finishing just three points ahead of Lower Sixth pupils Aidan and Jaydon. Our winners took home π-shaped trophies and maths books in recognition of their success. Well done to our winners and everyone who took part!

The event also forms part of our preparations for November’s Senior Team Challenge. Alongside the results of last week’s Senior Maths Challenge, it will help inform the selection of our four-pupil team.