A difficult mathematical equation is sometimes enough to make an adult shudder, but for these children, it’s a problem easily solved.

Primary school children aged 10 and 11 have taken part in the annual Mathematics Olympiad hosted by Queen Elizabeth II High School.

The event included a series of complicated calculations set by QEII mathematics teachers for children from all western primary schools.

Head of mathematics at the highschool Olivia Graham believes that the majority of adults would have struggled to answer any of the questions posed.

She said: ’Every year we continue to be impressed by the ability of the children to solve really quite difficult questions, which we know adults would struggle to answer.

’This year was no exception.

’The event has been running for several years with the questions being selected from the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust.

’We use this contest as a transitional activity for the primary schools to see QEII,’ she added.

The students were selected by their schools to compete in the contest, which took place in the main hall at QEII school.

Spending nearly three hours, the primary school pupils carefully solved a series of four rounds.

The questions were designed to test their ability to find solutions to tricky questions.

Winners were Michael Primary School’s (1) team, with Peel Clothworkers (1) team as the runners up and Michael (A) in third place.

Other schools that took part were St John’s, Foxdale, Marown and Ballaugh.

The winning teams each received gift vouchers.