Maths Challenge 2016

Year 12 & 13 pupils at Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School achieved 8 Golds, 15 Silvers and 9 Bronzes in this year’s UKMT Senior Maths Challenge.

Approximately 100,000 students from across the UK sat the Challenge, with roughly the top 10% receiving a Gold certificate, the next 20% Silver and the next 30% Bronze.

The percentages for BRGS were 25% Gold, 47% Silver and 28% Bronze.

Around 1000 top scorers in the Senior Challenge are invited to take part in the British Mathematical Olympiad Round 1 and around 2000 are invited to take part in the Senior Kangaroo.

We are delighted that Ryan Simonds, Harvey Musgrave, James Heaton, Matthew Tyman, Jacob Fielder and Shahidur Rahman (all Year 13), and Louis Jefcoate and Jake Crabtree (both Year 12) will take the Senior Kangaroo.

Particular congratulations go to Shahidur, who has made the biggest improvement compared to the results from 12 months ago.

Maths teacher Mr Wilbraham, who organises the Challenge, said: “The students have achieved some fantastic results this year, with everyone who participated receiving a certificate.

“The Challenge tests mathematical thinking and application, rather recalling methods and

processes, so the questions can be more abstract and difficult than those on A Level examinations.

“The level of thinking required is also suitable for many degree subjects and the students should include their success on this Challenge when they are applying for Higher Education.

“The students are required to think about their answers rather than just guess and our results show how mathematically able BRGS students are, as 100% received a certificate compared to 60% nationally.”

Two sample questions from this year’s Senior Maths Challenge are:

On a Monday, all prices in Isla’s shop are 10% more than normal. On Friday, all prices in Isla’s shop are 10% less than normal. James bought a book on Monday for £5.50. What would be the price of another copy of this book on Friday?

A: £5.50 B: £5.00 C: £4.95 D: £4.50 E: £4.40

Aaron has to choose a three-digit code for his bike lock. The digits can be chosen from 1-9. To help him remember them, Aaron chooses three different digits in increasing order, for example 278. How many such codes can be chosen?

A: 779  B: 504  C: 168  D: 84  E: 9