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M AT H E M AT I C S
Hans Woyda Maths Competition
What is the exact value of sin 105? In March, it was the
ticket to the HansWoyda Maths Competition Final, a
prestigious 64 team knock-out tournament for most of
the top ranking maths schools in Greater London and
the Home Counties. Initially, teams play in groups of four
local schools. Following this, the winning team progresses
to the knock-out stages.The Bancroft’s team had already
done well to reach this stage, beating Forest, Chigwell and
Ilford County High School to emerge as group champions
and then winning knock-out matches versus St Paul’s
Girls and Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys. They faced Queen
Elizabeth Barnet at home to reach the final.
However, the semi-final did not start well with QE taking
early control and establishing an 18-12 lead by the end of
the Geometry Round 2. Bancroft’s struck back in Mental
Maths but the QEYear 13 captain, Cambridge bound
naturally, delivered a sucker punch so that QE continued to
lead by three points going into the Team Round and break.
The Team Round was shared 5-5 with fully correct answers
from both sides.
The next rounds saw QE resisting the onslaught from
the plucky Bancroft’s team but QE entered the final Race
Round with their three point lead intact. Shivan then made
a breakthrough, reducing arrears to a single point.The game
then swung to and fro, punch and counter punch traded
but, as we entered the final two point question, captain
versus captain, Bancroft’s trailed by one point.
And so to the question.What is the exact value of sin 105?
Alex, Bancroft’s captain and team veteran, scribbled furiously.
His hand rose. His answer was correct. Bancroft’s emerged
into the full glare of Hans Woyda victory by 42 points to 41.
Congratulations must go to the team, Alex, Jathusan, Shivan
and Akash for both their Herculean efforts and also for
their hospitality and generosity of spirit to the opposing
team. Handshakes all round and bring on the final. Although
Bancroft’s can be relied on to reach the upper rounds of
the competition, and has done well in the Hans Woyda
Plate Competition, we believe this is the first time we have
reached the final of the main Hans Woyda Competition.
Unfortunately, Covid-19, school closures and lockdown
mean that the final has yet to be played. We remain
hopeful that with a relaxation of social distancing, it will take
place in the autumn.
By the way the answer to Alex’s winning question is (root 6
plus root 2)/4!
Martin Flaherty, Head of Mathematics