For many people, long division and fractions can cause headaches, let alone the idea of solving highly complicated equations. For others, math is a passion and even a competitive sport.

Some of the best young female "math-letes" in the country were recently selected to represent the United States at an international game, and two of them are from right here in the West Valley.

The Mathematical Sciences Research Institute and the Mathematical Association of America sent a team of eight high school girls to participate in the 2011 China Girls Mathematical Olympiad, including Julia Huang, a Saratoga resident and sophomore at Lynbrook High School, and Danielle Wang, a Campbell resident and freshman attending the California Virtual Academy.

They are joined by other students from California, as well as girls from Florida, Texas, Massachusetts and Virginia, and all were chosen from among the top ranks of the female finalists in the 2011 USA Mathematical Olympiad. The China Girls Mathematical Olympiad, held in Shenzhen near Hong Kong, began July 31 and will conclude Aug. 3