2009 Press Releases
Midleton CBS emerged as the winning team at the National Final of Team Math held at UCC on Saturday last (March 7th). The team of Jamie O'Mahony, Conor O'Donovan, Alan Lane and David McCarthy were among second-level mathematics students from all four provinces who gathered for the Final.
The competition format is based on that of a Table Quiz. Students work in teams of four at a table solving eight rounds (and a tie-breaker, if required) of problems. At each round, teams are given two/four problems to be solved within a specified time limit. Problems are designed to be sufficiently difficult so that all the students must participate actively, no one/two students could solve all the problems within the time limit. Problems are based on the Higher Level Leaving Certificate Syllabus. The competition has been running since 1991 at a local level and there has been a National Final since 2005.
The top performing student at the Leaving Certificate Mathematics Examination has been a member of the winning Team Math team on a number of occasions. Dr Donal Hurley of UCC’s School of Mathematical Sciences said Team Math Final is aimed at the very best Mathematics students throughout the country. “Participants in the Final represent the very best cohort of Mathematics students nationally. The competition is a most enjoyable experience for all students who compete”, he said.
Competition organisers ensure that teachers get recognition for their work and dedication in promoting Mathematics and the Competition. Teachers of award winning teams get the same prize as their team members and all teachers of Finalist teams get a separate teacher award. The prize for the 2008 winners, and their teacher, was a three-day trip to the European Space Agency in Noordwijkerhout, Holland.
The Irish Mathematics Teachers Association prepare questions at the Final and do the grading of student solutions. The organisation of events and administration is undertaken by the School of Mathematical Sciences at UCC.
The 2009 Team Math Final took place on Saturday, March 7th in the Multifunctional Hall, Áras na Mac Léinn UCC.
Picture shows winning team: Jamie O'Mahony, Conor O'Donovan, Alan Lane and David McCarthy from Midleton CBS.