Children compete in county maths challenge

The search is on for the county’s top junior mathematicians at the eighth annual 24-Game competition at Broadlands Primary School on Friday 16th March from 10am-12noon.

The 24-Game is a published mathematics game that helps children to develop their mental calculation skills in a fun way.

Players are presented with cards showing four single digits e.g., 4, 6, 2, 2, and have to work out how to make 24 using all four digits and any mathematical operations.

Scores are kept during the competition and prizes are awarded to the winning team and the runners-up.  Children with the highest individual scores also receive prizes.

Over 20 Herefordshire primary schools will be sending teams of 4 children aged 10 and 11 to play the game and compete against teams from other schools.  

Over the last few weeks, children have been practicing the game in their schools - many schools run maths clubs at lunchtimes at which children can play the game and develop their number skills. 

Some children become amazingly fast at finding solutions – often much faster than their teachers.

Councillor Don Rule, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “I’m looking forward to meeting some of the competitors at this exciting event and hope to learn something from it myself.  Trigonometry always fooled me.

“The event has been organised by the council’s School Improvement team as part of a strategy to raise the profile of mathematics across the county.  Using the 24-Game is an excellent way to help youngsters realise that numbers can be fun.”