No doubt like me, you were glued to the TV on Saturday night enjoying the fabulous feast of quality music and eclectic costumes on offer from across Europe and of course Australia!

The Eurovision Song Contest brings music and maths into homes across the world. Obviously, the songs are a big part of the evening but so is the voting. Many people will sit and try and work out how many points particular countries will need to win. In fact, if you think about it, elements of maths can be found throughout Eurovision. For example, in the rhythms found in songs, in the measurements needed to build the sets and in the statistics that journalists will quote when talking about the different entries.

This edition’s challenge is a Eurovision-based logic puzzle that will get you thinking. As usual there will be a prize for correct answers that can be submitted to me in person or by email. Good luck and make sure you don’t get ‘nul points’!

The Puzzle:

There are five Eurovision acts performing in the final, each from a different country:

Italy, Spain, Sweden, Greece, and Germany

Each act has a different colour as their primary costume colour:

Red, blue, green, yellow, and pink

Each act has a different musical genre:

Pop, Rock, Electronic, Jazz, and Country

• The act from Spain is wearing a red costume.
• The electronic act is not from Italy.
• The jazz act is wearing a blue costume.
• The act from UK is not wearing a pink costume.
• The rock act is from Germany.
• The pop act is not from Sweden.
• The act from Italy is wearing a yellow costume.

Can you work out what colour each act is wearing and what genre their song is?

Mr McVey

Maths Department

Year 10 Set A recently had the opportunity to receive a taster lesson in A Level Maths/Further Maths from the Headteacher at LUSoM, Peter Tiltman.

Students were given a brief overview of what LUSoM is and where it is based. They were then informed about the importance of studying Mathematics. Students realised that studying Mathematics further leads to versatile qualifications and allows you to develop key employability skills such as problem solving, communication, logical reasoning and resilience, hence leading onto a variety of career choices. Students also saw that many other subject areas also use some form of mathematics, such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, Psychology, Law and many others.

According to the JCQ data, A Level Mathematics was the most popular A Level entry in 2022, showing that it is becoming an increasingly popular choice of subject (95635 exam entries in the UK).

After this, students were given a taster lesson in one of the topics in A Level Maths/Further Maths, as well as the Level 2 Qualification in Further Maths, Pascal’s triangle, leading onto the Binomial Expansion. Students were thoroughly engaged and participated well in the lesson. They realised that although GCSE Mathematics consists of many standalone topics, the further they pursue the subject, they more they will start to see the different areas of mathematics interlink.

Ms Hasan

Maths Department

Junior Mathematical Challenge 2023

On Wednesday 26th February, it was time for our Year 7 and 8 students to take on the annual national challenge of the UKMT Junior Mathematics Challenge 2023.

Years 7 and 8 students answer a multiple-choice quiz based on mathematical skills learnt in lessons to problem solve.

Over 4000 schools across the UK take part in this event and the standard of participation is high; only the best achieving students can receive an award and to do so, is recognition of the effort and ability of our students.

After good showings from previous year groups in their respective challenges last year, expectations were very high and I am proud to announce that this year the results were up there with our recent best. The Year 7 cohort put in a particularly good effort, receiving a large number of bronze awards.

This year’s prize winners are as follows:

Cherlotte Y (Year 7) – Best in School, Best in Year 7 and Gold award

Isabella N (Year 7) – Gold award

Emily W (Year 8) – Best in Year 8 and Silver award

Silver awards were achieved by the following:

(Year 7) Laila B, Charlotte T, Ruby M and Emily T.

Bronze awards were achieved by the following:

(Year 8) Grace I, Maisie K, Marnie D, Hana S, Maisie B, Emelia W, Poppy M, Fatima S, Evie F, Holly L, Jessica O, Grace A, Syeda A, Lily S, Tanisha S, Daisy L, Isabella S, Naomi S, Helena M, Unaisah B, Hettie C and Amber P.

(Year 7) Aaminah B, Phoebe M, Faye N, Freya G, Susannah K, Ayra K, Hannah B, Phillipa M, Abigail W, Sophie W, Phoebe B, Lilah C, Beatrix W, Amelia C, Jennifer Z, Emily H, Esme F and Eva P.

Congratulations to everybody involved.

The department is already looking forward to seeing what each year group can do in their challenges next year!

Mr S Cheal

The Mathematics Department