When we think of Maths, most of us tend to picture complex formulas, graphs and mind-boggling equations. On this year’s Pi Day (14 March), however, the KLSMC (Kuala Lumpur Senior Maths Challenge) competition proved it could be something very different, full of lively discussions, music, games and delicious food.
After countless weeks of preparation with Mr Wallace and Mr Baloyo, Epsom’s Year 11, 12 and 13 students gathered in Kuala Lumpur for the competition. Within a short time, we got to meet students from a range of other international schools, all united by a sense of nervousness and excitement for what the afternoon would bring. The matching event T-shirts helped to create a sense of unity early on, and it quickly felt like an interactive experience rather than a competition.
The icebreakers were followed by the opening ceremony, where a Kahoot quiz brought the room to life before the first round began. The competition then kicked off with the integration round, which was every bit as hectic as we expected. Our six teams (two each from Years 11, 12 and 13) engaged in heated discussions as we attempted the questions. What stood out about this round was how much it relied on collaboration, we split the questions among ourselves, sharing ideas, finding solutions and checking our answers together. That sense of collaboration carried through the rest of the competition.
After a delicious outdoor buffet lunch, the Proof round brought us a different kind of challenge. Complicated new concepts were involved, and that meant working even more closely as a team, exchanging our reasoning, refining it and making sure everyone agreed before we settled on a solution. This was followed by the Fermi round, which was undoubtedly one of the most memorable parts of the day. Going into the round, we were curious as to what the questions would involve, we were pleasantly surprised when we were faced with some of the most bizarre questions we’d ever seen. Rather than giving us differentials and curves, we had to solve estimation questions, such as comparing the number of grains of sand on a beach to the number of stars in a galaxy. There weren’t any set formulas to follow, which meant we could let our creativity run wild, debating approaches, exploring different assumptions and reaching answers together.
The rounds concluded with Dragon Maths, which was a relay round. We solved the questions together while one member of the team ran to deliver the answer to the judges. This was the most fast-paced round, we were all motivated by the promise of not just a high ranking but also the sunset dinner awaiting us outside. Once the round had ended, we poured out of the building, gathering for dinner against the backdrop of a beautiful sunset, with music from the “Klasstonbury” DJ. It offered us a chance to relax and socialise, capped off with a group photo on the steps of the library. The results were then announced, with memorable medals awarded for Epsom teams’ placing in the Dragon Round. Epsom placed in the top half overall amongst all the schools competing.
What made the day stand out, however, wasn’t just the ranking. It was the lively interactions we shared and the way we kept our spirits high even through the most difficult questions. We came away from KLSMC not just with rankings and medals, but with the belief that when working together, no amount of puzzles, not even the grains of sand on a beach or stars in the galaxy, is too difficult for us to solve.
Year 11: Yahan Z., Xinyue W., Jingyi Z., Bingyi L., Ruitian W., Wenqi C., Minseong K., Yusi C.
Year 12: Zi L., Soe S., Linn H., Let L., Susan Z., Kyi S., Ming L.
Year 13: Sithu Oo., Jie S., Khai L., Ee W., Jaris A., Zhe C., Ashley L., Mei T.
Susan Z.
Year 12 Student