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Mathematics
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This year has proved to be another exceptional year with the results our students have achieved in mathematical competitions. Throughout this year we have had students in each of the following competitions: Have Sum Fun (Upper and Lower Secondary), Have
Mr Geoffrey Jamieson Head of Mathematics Sum Fun Online, Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC), AMC Maths Challenge Stage, AMC Intermediate Olympiad, Maths Talent Quest, National Maths Talent Quest and WA Junior Maths Olympiad. The following summarises just the very best of the results. Many students who performed exceptionally well are not mentioned here, such was the volume of outstanding performances. AMC Prize winners Jonathan Chung-Wah-Cheong and Adrian Maydwell. Our students also achieved 19 High Distinctions, 89 Distinctions and 187 Credits. AMC Maths Challenge Stage High Distinctions Adrian Maydwell, Calum Braham, Jack Dewsbury, Jonathan Chung-Wah-Cheong and Matthew Hopkins. There were also 6 Distinctions. AMC Intermediate Olympiad Distinctions to Adrian Maydwell and Calum Braham and Credits to Jack Dewsbury and Jonathan Chung-Wah-Cheong. This competition has entry by invitation only, such is the extremely tough nature of this level of the competition where students must sit a four hour examination. Maths Talent Quest (State level) Our students were entered into the Year 8 and Year 9 competitions. At each year group there are two topics and Trinity students achieved the remarkable feat of winning both first prizes in both year groups. 1st prize Ben Massam and Luke Geoghegan for the topic Soap Bubbles, 1st prize Miles Blair and Armani May for Fruit Machines, 1st prize Austin Connelly for Postage Stamps and 1st prize Adam Taylor and Stephen Loughnan for Finish the Game. Jack Dewsbury and Michael Duan also received Highly Commended awards. Trinity College was also awarded the prize for the Best All-round School.
Maths Talent Quest (National level) The project Soap Bubbles by Ben Massam and Luke Geoghegan was subsequently entered into the National level of this competition after the State judging and won a National first prize.
Have Sum Fun – Upper Secondary Our team of Paul Duong, Liam Roche, Ben Seman, Alex Collen and James Marocchi was placed second.
Have Sum Fun – Lower Secondary Our team of Michael Duan, John Mondelo, Calum Braham, Jack Dewsbury, Jack Davies, Curtis Novacsek and Aristo Wibowanto was placed second. This team initially finished equal first but was defeated in the tie break.
WA Junior Olympiad The team of Calum Braham, Jonathan Chung-Wah-Cheong, Jack Dewsbury and Siddhanth Sharma finished a creditable third. Individually Jack Dewsbury finished in second position.
Again this year I have been impressed by the very high level of participation by so many students and with the quality of their performance. It is not just those mentioned above, but the vast majority of students who show great dedication and determination to achieve the very best they can achieve.
Many challenges lie ahead for the staff. Next year we will begin Courses of Study in Year 11 with all new textbooks. Year 7 students will enter the secondary school for the first time at Trinity. We have also decided to change the set of textbooks we use so that there will be one set of textbooks to use from Year 7 to Year 10. This means that new programs must be planned and developed before the start of the new school year. With CAS calculators also becoming a required part of many courses, staff members are contributing many hours of preparation time.
Finally I would like to take this opportunity to thank all members of the Mathematics Department. It is a privilege to work with a group who are always so positive, supportive and professional. This is reflected in the way nearly all students approach mathematics, with great effort and enthusiasm.
Mr Geoffrey Jamieson
Head of Mathematics
This year the top mathematics classes from Years 8 and 9 competed in the Maths Talent Quest. This assignment gives students the opportunity to apply their knowledge of mathematics to a diverse range of everyday topics. Luke Geoghegan and I chose the topic ‘Soap Bubbles’ as our Year 9 problem. This problem required us to use our knowledge of soap bubbles to connect any number of points in the shortest possible distance. We then analysed the geometry underlying our solutions. Some class time was allocated for these projects, but it was to be completed mainly out of our own time.
Every year the five best projects from each year are submitted to the State Maths Talent Quest, which is run by MAWA (The Mathematical Association of Western Australia). Our project was chosen to progress to this level and we won the State title for our category. MAWA then chooses a select few projects to represent the state in the National Maths Talent Quest. Luke and I were fortunate enough to be selected.
After many more rigorous hours of hard work our project was flown to Melbourne to be assessed by the National judges. At the beginning of October we were notified that we had been awarded first place in our year group. We were invited to accept our prize at La Trobe University in Melbourne on Thursday the 23rd of October.
Travelling across Australia was a fantastic experience and it was amazing to talk with fellow mathematicians from across the Nation. Being the only Western Australian entrants present, it was exceptionally fascinating to learn about the other States’ allocated topics. We felt extremely proud of our achievements and to be able to represent the College in such a positive way.
We would like to thank the Trinity College Mathematics Department for giving us the opportunity to compete in this competition. A special thank you goes to Mr Geoffrey Jamieson for his advice and for helping us to improve the project between the State and National levels. Finally we thank Mr Dusan Vojvodic, our mathematics teacher, for his help and guidance.
Academic
