Maths News
The Australian Maths Competition
This year, Glen Eira College students from Year 7-9 participated in the Australian Maths Competition (AMC). Year 7 and 8 students participated in the Junior Division and Year 9 students participated in the Intermediate Division.
The AMC is an engaging 30-problem competition that demonstrates the importance and relevance of mathematics in students’ everyday lives. Students are asked to solve 30 problems in 75 minutes. The problems are designed to test the mathematical thinking of students and become increasingly challenging as the students go through the competition.
We are pleased that our students put their best efforts forward and a large proportion were awarded with Credits, Distinctions and High Distinctions, placing them above the state average. A special mention goes to our “Best in school” award winner: Ezra Bloch.
Top scoring students are listed below.
Top students in Year 7:
Ezra Bloch - High Distinction
Jason Scott - Distinction
Jackson Becker - Distinction
Top students in Year 8:
William Middleton - Distinction
Hayoung Kim - Distinction
Benwyn Desuyo - Distinction
Nathaniel Cosgrave - Distinction
Top students in Year 9:
Ariel Goldman - Distinction
Eli Briggs - Distinction
Ruyuan Liao - Credit
Hyun Kyung Kwon - Credit
All Distinction students:
We would like to congratulate all students on their achievements in this competition.
CAS Calculator
The Computer Algebra System (CAS) calculator has been in use for quite some time in all VCE Mathematics courses and is an essential tool for the coursework and exams for these subjects. Students must become experts in the use of their CAS throughout these years so that they can demonstrate competency in using CAS technology as part of their assessed outcomes and undertake technology enabled exams.
In addition to the VCE years, the CAS Calculator is listed as a requirement on the booklist for all students studying Year 10 Maths from 2019 onwards. Our aim is to boost student competency and confidence in the use of their CAS calculator in Year 10 so that we can focus on the key knowledge and skills needed at Year 11 and 12.
A specialised group of teachers from the Mathematics Department have been working hard on developing CAS focussed activities at Year 10 to develop the foundational skills students will master with their calculator in VCE.
The calculator that Glen Eira College has elected to use is the Texas Instruments TI-Nspire CX CAS Touchpad Colour. While there are other CAS calculators on the market, purchasing the prescribed calculator will allow students to have support in navigating a device that their teachers and peers will routinely operate.
We thank all parents and guardians of 2018’s Year 10 (and 9B) who have already shown support in this initiative.
Alicia Davey
Maths/Numeracy KLA Leader