STUDENTS at New England Girls School in Armidale can now study maths around the clock - literally - after two girls from the local area answered a challenge to create a clockface using mathematical formulae.

The school's Head of Mathematics Consuela Despi showed students a clock that used only the digit 9 in 12 different mathematical operations, and asked if any students felt it could be replicated.

Year 11 student Annabel Stoddart, from Delungra, soon came up with a concept using the digit 4 - and after her formulas were checked for accuracy, asked classmate Andrea (Annie) Vivers from Kings Plains, to help design it.

"It took me about half an hour to work out. I knew Annie was good at art and computer graphics, so she put it together for me in Photoshop," Annabel said.

Their end result will now become a teaching tool across all year groups, and help students in their understanding as they are introduced to more sophisticated mathematical concepts.

"I cannot express my pride and respect for these two students who have strived to live up the school motto of 'learning with spirit'," Mrs Despi said.

"Annabel put a lot of thought into it and the way she came up with all those mathematical operations using the number four demonstrates her excellent understanding of numbers."

© 2011 Inverell Times

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