Mathematical Challenge 2000-2001

Bill Richardson

This is my first annual report on Mathematical Challenge (MC). I was extremely flattered when Adam McBride approached me in September 1999 to ask if I was willing to succeed Edward Patterson as Chair of the National Committee. I said that I was and as they say the rest, including many unforeseen consequences, is history. I must pay my own tribute to Professor Patterson for the vast amount of work done in creating and running Mathematical Challenge for the best part of 25 years. He certainly is a very hard act to follow.

As far as possible, we have maintained the established methods although one or two changes have been creeping in. We are making greater use of the Web to display solutions. Some Sections are giving the Web address although paper versions are available on request. This procedure saves time and money for the SMC and so benefits us. What is not clear is how it appears from the user's point of view. Some feedback on this would be welcome. We have also made a big effort to keep the MC website up-to-date as regards questions. There are some members of the committee who think that, as questions are on the website, we should ask schools to download them. Again your views would be welcome.

I will touch briefly on the question of cost. The current session has seen the introduction of a registration fee. Some feel this to be regrettable but the operation, mainly the prizes and associated ceremonies, costs a lot. Once upon a time, before de-regionalisation, the SMC was able to approach Local Authorities and acquire funding in that way but, with the number of authorities now involved, this is no longer practicable. This initiative will be reported on more fully in next year's report.

I should like to express my gratitude to the members of the National Committee who give of their time to run the competition. I must also thank schools and other employers for allowing the Committee to have time off to attend the three meetings. There have been a number of changes at the end of 2000-2001. Harry Braden (University of Edinburgh) has been succeeded by Diana Mackie as the organiser of Section 3 (secondary). Frances Goldman (University of Glasgow) has been succeeded by Adam McBride as the organiser of Section 4 (secondary). Roisin Coll has taken over more from Gerry McKaig (although I doubt if he will completely fade away). Finally, I am pleased to say that the Committee has both a secretary and treasurer which makes it much more businesslike! The current committee is:-

Section Organisers

I Dr Colin Maclachlan (University of Aberdeen)

II Dr Frank Smith (University of St Andrews)

III Dr Diana Mackie (Napier University)

III(P) Mr Eric Brown (University of Edinburgh)

IV Prof. Adam McBride (University of Strathclyde)

IV(P) Mr Gerry McKaig (University of Glasgow)

V Mrs Elizabeth West (University of Paisley)

Other members

Treasurer:

Miss Hannah Fulford (Preston Lodge HS)

Secretary:

Dr Giles Thomas (University of Dundee)

Mr Craig Stewart (Bearsden Academy)

Roisin Coll (University of Glasgow)

Mr John Thomson (Braidfield HS)

Section Organisers

I Dr Colin Maclachlan (University of Aberdeen)

II Dr Frank Smith (University of St Andrews)

III Dr Diana Mackie (Napier University)

III(P) Mr Eric Brown (University of Edinburgh)

IV Prof. Adam McBride (University of Strathclyde)

IV(P) Mr Gerry McKaig (University of Glasgow)

V Mrs Elizabeth West (University of Paisley)

Other members

Treasurer:

Miss Hannah Fulford (Preston Lodge HS)

Secretary:

Dr Giles Thomas (University of Dundee)

Mr Craig Stewart (Bearsden Academy)

Roisin Coll (University of Glasgow)

Mr John Thomson (Braidfield HS)

The following reports are from the relevant Section Organisers.

Section 1 (North)

Although the overall numbers in all sections were down a little on the preceding year, we continue to have entries and prize winners from far and wide - indeed from Farr and Wick!

Winners of Gold and Silver Awards in all secondary divisions were invited to an Award Ceremony on 11th June 2001 at the University of Aberdeen. This was well-attended by the winners, parents and teachers. Various mathematical displays and activities were exhibited in the morning and lunch for about 160 was provided by the Department of Mathematical Sciences. In the afternoon, the Chairman of Mathematical Challenge, Bill Richardson MBE gave a talk entitled "Some challenging problems" and presented the prizes.

As always, I am deeply indebted to my team of markers and other colleagues for their assistance during the year.

Section 2 (East and Central)

The prize-giving took place on Tuesday 29th May at the University of Dundee when Professor Mark Chaplain gave a talk titled 'Fighting Cancer with Calculus'. The best ten gold winners in Primary were invited to the prize-giving and all participants were encouraged to bring cameras. Mr Angus Peters of Fraser Tennant Insurance, Perth agreed to present the prizes and thanks are due to Giles Thomas for the organisation.

Section 3 (Lothian and Borders)

Overall, the numbers taking part in the competition within the section were broadly comparable to last years, with more than a thousand taking part. The main change from last year was the fewer number of pupils entering the second round in the Junior and Middle sections. This can largely be attributed to one school withdrawing from the competition in this latter round. Again the administrative burden was split, with Mr E. Brown of the Faculty of Education, the University of Edinburgh, organising the Primary section (with its three rounds) and the Secondary sector (with its two rounds) being organised separately.

The prize-giving was on Friday 1st June in the Swann Building at the University of Edinburgh. Many Gold and Silver award-winning pupils, teachers and parents attended the ceremony. After refreshments and a brief introduction, Elmer Rees, Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, presented the awards. Afterwards Dr. Colin Aitken spoke on 'Lies, damned lies and expert witnesses' to the S2 and higher years, parents and teachers. The Primary award- winners participated in a 'Tiling' workshop while the S1 award winners were confronted with 'Games of Chance'. The statistics, including certificates, awarded were as follows:

The organisation of the Secondary section will be taken over for the next three years by Diana Mackie of Napier University as part of the (now) standard rotation of this task by the three Edinburgh universities. I am indebted to my markers and colleagues who have aided me in this enterprise: Thank you.

Section 4 (West)

In the three years since the Primary Section was taken over by the Faculty of Education of Glasgow University the number of entrants has increased by about a half and the recent trend is shown in the table below.

As in previous years, marking of scripts was undertaken by the 120 students in the third year of their BEd (Hons) degree course supervised and monitored by four staff tutors. This assessment of problem solving constitutes part of their block of work on the 'Able Mathematics Pupil'. The students enthusiastically welcomed the opportunity to experience the level of work of which able P7 pupils were capable, its assessment, and the recording methods used to communicate solutions. Around 21% of the entry received an award, as shown. All winners of gold and silver certificates (with parents and teachers) were invited to a prize giving ceremony on Friday 8th June at St Andrew's Campus, University of Glasgow. At the prize-giving, Dr Ian Anderson gave an interactive talk on Bar Codes which was followed by a workshop and refreshments. Certificates and mugs were presented by Dr Hirek Kwiatkowski, Dean of the Faculty of Education and by Dr Anderson.

Thanks are due to all students who helped with the marking, to the local authority personnel who helped with the distribution of the problems and to Susan Kelly for the technical administration.

In the Secondary Division, there were some pupils with noteworthy acheivements. Two pupils scored full marks: Thomas Dinsdale-Young (Hutchesons' GS: Senior) and Erica Thompson (Douglas Academy: Middle). Also, Yanlan Mao has now won a gold in each year S1 to S6.

Section 5 (South West)

The popularity of the competition continues to rise with an increase of 12 in the number of schools and 100 in the number of pupils taking part. Awards were presented at two events, one at the Crichton Campus in Dumfries and the other at the Paisley Campus of the University of Paisley. Award winners and their friends attended the events at which Mr Arthur MacDivitt of the University of Paisley talked about some mathematical patterns arising from City Walks and Railway Journeys.