Students  Bianca Masters, Nikki Bakhtazad and Mignon Du Plessis with STEM co-ordinator Peter Chandler.
Camera IconStudents Bianca Masters, Nikki Bakhtazad and Mignon Du Plessis with STEM co-ordinator Peter Chandler. Credit: Supplied/Jon Hewson         d462855

Penrhos girls take on world at Mathematics Team Championships in Korea

Aaron CorlettSouthern Gazette

A TRIP to Korea for a world maths competition added up to a fun time for a group of Penrhos College students.

Eight students and mathematics teacher Peter Chandler went to Seoul for the 7th World Mathematics Team Championship from November 23 to 27 to compete against schools from around the world.

Penrhos Year 8 student Mignon du Pless-is said it was an exciting and different exp- erience for the team.

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“The way that people from other countries pose and answer questions was different from us, which made it more difficult,” she said.

“There were a number of rounds in the individual and team sections and the questions became more difficult.

“There were a lot of geometry and algebra questions, but they covered all topics.”

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Mignon said the students prepared a lot for the competition through the school’s Maths Mentor program.

“We couldn’t prepare for all of the competition though because the type of questions were nothing like we had experienced,” she said.

“I think it’s great for all of us to experience something different and it will help us in our studies.”

Mr Chandler said the idea was to experience a different culture and meet new people while improving the students’ mathematical know-ledge.

“It’s the second year that Penrhos College took part and last year we were the first school from Australia to take part,” he said.

“The students took part in individual and team events and the competition enabled them to meet people from around the world. We were able to visit certain sites around the city too, which was exciting for the girls.”

The eight girls to take part were Menu Gamage, Gabrielle Thompson, Mignon du Plessis, Nikki Bakhtazad, Sophie Melsom, Breanne Archer, Bianca Masters and Jessica Pridgeon.