By Shona Mckenzie | Posted: Thursday June 24, 2021
Five times a year, Year 7 & 8 students from around New Zealand compete in the Otago Problem Solving Competition.
This competition requires students to independently solve a range of mathematics problems.
During each session, students are given five different problems that need to be solved within the 30 minute time frame. The questions vary, however, generally they include brain teasers. This year the competition began in April and will continue to take place each month.
The program has been running for 30 years with over one million students around New Zealand have already participated. It is organized by John Curran and John Shanks, who are retired members of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Otago, with help from Leanne Kirk, also a member of the Mathematics Department.
In my opinion, I think that it is worth participating in the program as it improves your mathematics and thinking skills.
By Jessica Wallwork
Room 5