A Goodwood schoolboy will compete against maths boffins from around the world at an international maths olympiad in Hong Kong in July.
Grade 12 Fairbairn College pupil, Mohammed Yaseen Mowzer is among six of South Africa’s top high school pupils chosen to take part in the 57th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), from Wednesday July 6 to Saturday July 16.
The competition dates back to 1959 when Romania hosted the first one. Last year it was held in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
This year, more than 100 countries from five continents will compete.
The olympiad’s questions test advanced thinking skills, and topics include geometry, combinatorics, number theory and algebra.
The team was selected based on the results of last year’s South African Mathematics Olympiad (SAMO), and an intensive training programme followed.
For the first time in South African IMO history, the same team that took part in 2015 (as Grade 11 pupils), when the country ranked 55th in the world, was selected again. The team will be accompanied by Dr Dirk Basson and Phil Labuschagne.
Professor Johann Engelbrecht, executive director of the South African Mathematics Foundation, wished the team well.
“Competing with young minds from all over the world is a wonderful experience, and we wish the South African team the best of luck.”
The other team members, all in Grade 12, are; Nicholas Kroon, St Andrew’s College in Grahamstown; Andrew McGregor, Rondebosch Boys’ High School; Sanjiv Ranchod and David Broodryk, both from Westerford High School, and Bronson Rudner, from SACS.