Students to prove mathematical prowess

The nation's young brainiacs - who make solving pi look easy - will be out to prove their calculating competence as they sit the 38th annual Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC).

Students across Australia will take part in the mathematics competition on Thursday in a 75-minute secondary paper or a 60-minute primary problem solving paper - with the best-scoring students to receive awards at the annual ceremony.

Around 14.5 million students have entered since the competition commenced in 1978, with this year seeing the highest ever number of entries.

Executive Director of the not-for-profit Australian Mathematics Trust, Mike Clapper, says the competition helps encourage studying and identifies talented students.

"The competition aims to encourage and enthuse all students about studying maths to improve their future career options," Mr Clapper said.

"It also identifies the most talented, such as for this year's Australian IMO (International Mathematical Olympiad) team, who came sixth in the world out of 104 teams, winning two gold and four silver medals. And they started with the AMC," he added.

Students who receive outstanding results will be awarded medals at the Australian award ceremony in Perth, Western Australia.