Maths stars totally shine in challenge

St George's Preparatory School students gave a superlative performance in ASB NZ Maths Problem Challenge 2012, winning a national excellence award, and a merit award.

Michael Zhiang, 12, was named 20th student in New Zealand and was the number one student in the Manawatu/Wanganui region.

As a school, St George's was placed second in the Manawatu/Wanganui region.

The Problem Challenge is a mathematics-solving competition aimed at Years 7 and 8 and organised by Otago University's Mathematics and Statistics Department.

The children enter the competition online and this year about 600 schools entered more than 27,000 students.

Children participating in the competition attempt to answer five questions in 30 minutes on each of five problem sheets, which are done about a month apart.

They do the problems individually, but they can share their answers and strategies in small groups afterwards.