Students put their maths skills to the test during National Maths Week
Posted on August 31, 2026
From solving problems and breaking codes to reciting hundreds of digits of pi, Macleans College students put their mathematical skills to the test during National Maths Week.
The week featured a different maths-themed activity each day, giving students plenty of opportunities to learn, compete and have fun.
The week began with a Rubik’s Cube competition at lunchtime on Monday. Richard Tao (Kupe House) took first place with an impressive solve time of just seven seconds.
On Tuesday, students took part in a mathematical scavenger hunt. Teams searched around the school for clues involving mathematical patterns, shapes and numbers. Mila Sutch (Hillary) and Morgan Hutton (Te Kanawa) were the winning team.
Wednesday featured a pi reciting competition, with students challenged to see how many digits they could remember. The benchmark to beat was an impressive 501 digits.
On Thursday, students showcased their creativity in a maths-themed cake decorating competition. Entries incorporated mathematical designs, patterns and numbers, with Angie Smith (Kupe) taking first place.
The week also featured the popular Interhouse Mathex competition in the gymnasium on Thursday lunchtime. Year 9 and Year 10 students worked together in teams to solve mathematical problems as quickly as possible, while staff teams also joined in on the fun.
The winning Year 9 team was Kupe House, consisting of Yan Yixiao, Julian Xiao, Cindy Lin and Deven Wei. In Year 10, Batten House, comprising Marcus Ng, Katie Wu, Noah Liu and Ivo Zheng, and Snell House, comprising Emery Cai, Mary Liu, Andy Tian and Jasper Wu, shared first place.
A codebreaking challenge also ran throughout the week, with students working to solve mathematical codes for prizes. Scarlett Liu (Upham) and Sheryl Zhang (Batten) were the overall winners.
National Maths Week provided students with a fun way to explore mathematics beyond the classroom and challenge themselves through a range of activities.
