UK maths prodigy sets out to prove his worth at international Olympiad
16-year-old mathlete Joe Benton travels with UK team to Thailand next
week to battle, against the odds, the powerhouses of China, USA and
Taiwan.
“I’ve always been interested in maths, since I can remember,” says 16-year-old Joe Benton. “I find it elegant. I really enjoy the kick you get when you solve a problem, when it’s something you’ve been thinking of as impossible for a long time, and it suddenly becomes obvious. That ‘a-ha’ moment – it’s fun.”
Joe is one of six gifted young mathematicians chosen for the British team who will compete next week in the 56th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The IMO is the world cup of mathematics competitions for secondary school-age students. It began in 1959 with seven countries competing in Bucharest, Romania. Now, it’s a global event with more than 500 teenagers from over 100 countries.
“I’ve always been interested in maths, since I can remember,” says 16-year-old Joe Benton. “I find it elegant. I really enjoy the kick you get when you solve a problem, when it’s something you’ve been thinking of as impossible for a long time, and it suddenly becomes obvious. That ‘a-ha’ moment – it’s fun.”
Joe is one of six gifted young mathematicians chosen for the British team who will compete next week in the 56th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The IMO is the world cup of mathematics competitions for secondary school-age students. It began in 1959 with seven countries competing in Bucharest, Romania. Now, it’s a global event with more than 500 teenagers from over 100 countries.
