BP Mathematics Trading Challenge

On Friday 11th November at Somervale School, all Year 9 took part in a Maths Department led Trading Challenge Workshop sponsored by the BP Oil Company. Students were split into teams of four and introduced to the challenge of buying and selling oil on the 'International Markets'.

Teams had to decide on a company name and decide who would fill certain roles within the company ie Accountant, Company Chairman, Chief Executive and Head of Personnel.

Students then had to make decisions on whether to buy or sell their stocks depending on various scenarios across the world, such as; Tornados in the Caribbean, industrial action or new oil fields being discovered which affect the price of a barrel of oil.

The Mathematics of 'risk' were examined and students had to calculate their companies profit and loss. At the end of the afternoon Sam Clark, Jasmine Perkins, Jack Barter and Corey Rawlings team won with a profit of $200,000

All pupils enjoyed the trading challenge, giving them an excellent insight into how oil is traded and how it affects the price of almost everything we buy.

Somervale School and the Maths Department would like to thank BP for their support.