Maths and fitness collide
PUTTING their brains and brawn to the test, 120 Mathematics enthusiasts from various universities participated in the 2019 Maths Runner, recently spearheaded by the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Mathematics Society.
Starting at Berjaya Times Square LG Entertainment Entrance, the race brought participants to 17 game stations and four checkpoints at various locations in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, such as Dataran Merdeka and Central Market.
Besides appraising their physical skills, the competition also saw participants demonstrating their problem-solving skills and teamwork in completing two major quests.
The first quest required participants to collect stamps for the score card, while the second quest required them to collect puzzle pieces to complete the final puzzle.
Divided into 40 groups, participants competed to win cash prizes of up to RM2,050, which was sponsored by Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (MARGMA).
In his speech at the closing ceremony, 2019 Maths Runner chairperson Chia See Leng said the mathematics-based games required logical understanding rather than formulas to solve the equations.
Quoting William Paul Thurston, he said: “Mathematics is not just about numbers, equations, computations or algorithms. Mathematics is about understanding.”
Hoping that the participants had enjoyed themselves, Chia also expressed his gratitude to the main sponsor MARGMA and the venue sponsor, Berjaya Times Square.
Clinching the first prize, group leader Seow Kian Yong said: “My group really did not expect to win the first prize and we are very happy and grateful for it.
“I really enjoyed participating in this event because the games were challenging and interesting. It also challenged my strength and stamina as I had to run to the game areas to search for the station masters. Overall, I think this event is a great success.”
Head of Sponsorship and UTAR Actuarial Science student Wong Boon Khew, 23, said: “One of the main challenges that we faced is the difficulty of getting sponsorship. We have done our best to search for potential donors, prepare proposals and pursue various companies to sponsor our event. It turned out well in the end.”
MARGMA chief executive officer Chan Wone Fu said it was a great pleasure sponsoring the event.
Expressing his hopes to do the same next year, Chan said supporting the Maths Runner 2019 was an act of corporate social responsibility from the company.