Over the last two weeks the inaugural edition of the Merchant Taylors’ Mental Arithmetic Bee took place. Members of the Thirds and Upper Thirds were invited to test the speed and accuracy of their mental calculations against the clock and each other.
They were required to complete calculations, such as the division of a four-digit number by a two-digit one, add and simplify fractions and multiply two two-digit numbers without the aid of pen and paper and with the pressure of a time limit and an audience.
Thirty-six boys entered and, after a competitive first round the field was narrowed to six boys who took part in the final. The level of arithmetic on show by all competitors was truly impressive, and at various times the gathered audience were agasp at the speed at which difficult sums, differences, products and quotients were computed.
The final was hotly contested and, in the end, only one point separated the top two, with Jack B. (U3rds) edging out Aari M. (U3rds). Levin W. (U3rds) came third with Eashar S. (3rds), Krish A. (U3rds), and Mustafa H. (U3rds) rounding out the top six.
Well done to all involved.
