Senior high school students from Knox College firmly demonstrated their prowess in mathematics by taking the winning title in the 2nd annual University of Technology, Jamaica Mathematics Quiz Competition Thursday last at the university’s Papine campus.

At the end of the final match, the Clarendon-based Knox College team, comprising Kejhawn Brown, Ruth-Ann Blair and Raheem Wilson, had a score of 19, to Campion college’s eight.

The 30-minute match was played in three exciting ‘Schools-Challenge’ style rounds with each team answering questions from the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) Level 1 mathematics curricula with topics including trigonometry, complex numbers, probability, polynomial and differential equations. Questions were posed by quiz master and lecturer in the School of Mathematics and Statistics, Judith Delisser.

At the end of the first six-minute round, both teams tied at four points each; but it was Knox College who showed its stronger mettle, as the team soared ahead, correctly answering questions such as: “three blown bulbs are accidentally put along with five good bulbs in a box; if two bulbs are selected randomly without replacement, find the probability that the first is blown and the second is good.” The Knox College team correctly answered 15/56.

The winning school received a trophy and cash prize of $150,000, while the second place finisher received a trophy and a cash prize of $100,000. Gifts were also presented by sponsors H& L Ultimate Touch Promotion, Jamaica Biscuit Company and Wisynco.

The UTech, Jamaica Mathematics Quiz Competition is part of the university’s thrust to increase interest and critical thinking skills in mathematics to promote the importance and development of the subject as a tool for problem-solving across disciplines. It also seeks to generate a deeper appreciation for the subject among high school students in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.

The second annual Mathematics Quiz Competition which began with the preliminary round comprising 19 high schools from across Jamaica on November 17, 2018 was held under the theme, “Mathematics, the Choice of the New Generation.”

The Competition is open to all high schools, technical, vocational, agricultural, and community colleges.

President of UTech, Jamaica, Professor Stephen Vasciannie, who conceptualised the quiz competition, congratulated the finalists and all the participating schools. He noted that the teaching and learning of mathematics in Jamaica needs greater attention, but noted with pride that the UTech competition showcases Jamaican talent in the subject at its best, while serving to help students to prepare for their CSEC and CAPE exams.

The president thanked the teachers and parents who coached, guided and inspired the students’ love and development of their skills in the subject. He also commended the Faculty of Science and Sport, led by dean Dr Kamilah Hylton and vice-dean Patrick Williams, chief competition organiser Ave Maria McIntosh and their team of faculty members and administrative teams.

Greetings were received from Romaine Thomas, secondary mathematics coach in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, who represented Dr Tamika Benjamin, national mathematics coordinator. Thomas congratulated UTech, Jamaica on the staging of the quiz competition, which he said supports the goals and objectives of the ministry’s national “Math Counts” campaign.