Education

German Teen Solves Mathematical Riddle First Proposed by Sir Isaac Newton

German Teen Shouryya Ray Solves Mathematical Riddle First Proposed by Sir Isaac NewtonA 16-year-old mathematical whiz has discovered how exactly to calculate the path of a projectile under gravity and subject to air resistance– a dilemma first proposed by Sir Isaac Newton some 300 years ago.

Born in India, Shouryya Ray says he came up with the solution while working on a school project, and has since received research awards and even been labeled a “genius” by the German media.

Humble in addition to brilliant, it seems, Ray wrote off the praise as “curiosity and schoolboy naivety.”

Though the family moved to Germany when Ray was twelve, Ray’s father had reportedly been teaching him calculus since the age of six.  According to the father, however, his son’s aptitude soon surpassed his own knowledge, despite his training in engineering.

Ray still credits his father with instilling in him a “hunger for mathematics,” however.

When explaining why he chose to tackle Newton’s problem, Ray simply said: “When it was explained to us that the problems had no solutions, I thought to myself, ‘well, there’s no harm in trying.’”

“I didn’t believe there couldn’t be a solution.”

German Teen Shouryya Ray Solves Mathematical Riddle First Proposed by Sir Isaac Newton

(Photo: Technische Universitat Bergakadamie Freiberg)

 

While mathematicians have been able to surmise partial answers until this point, Fox News is saying that Ray’s contribution will likely lead to greater precision in the field of ballistics, among others.

Though Ray didn’t speak a word of German before arriving in the country at age twelve, he is due to graduate this week, two years ahead of his peers.

When asked if there was anything he couldn’t do, or wishes he could do better, Ray responded: “Football, for one.”

 

Comments (180)

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  • Captain Crunch
    Posted on May 27, 2012 at 10:25pm

    I solved that problem when I was in 3rd grade. The only instruments I had which aided in the solution was a spit-wad and a straw. My accuracy was astounding!

    Report Post »  
    • txjb
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 10:43pm

      here here !

      Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 10:49pm

      It’s now a Felony. You can’t even have straws and paper together or you will be arrested for having a deadly weapon.

      Report Post »  
    • tharpdevenport
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 2:32pm

      So, if the straw is a deadly weapon, that means the spit wad is a biological chemical attack.

      Sending off red flags in underground security computer centers since getting online. ;-)

      Report Post » tharpdevenport  
    • NotaLemming
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 4:52pm

      Straws as Deadly weapons and spit-wads deemed a biological payload……. Think about how ridiculous the authorities have become. Now look at harp and chips comments. Hey those comments landed inside the ballpark of today’s ABSURD Reality. I think that is the scariest part of all of this. The trajectory has changed and WE THE PEOPLE have become the target used in Newtons query. …… Think about it….. Sure sure we much!

      Report Post » NotaLemming  
    • do_it_all_again
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:11pm

      The article did not say if his theory has been proven to be correct, otherwise, its still just a theory.

      If its never been solved before, you cant just say you solved it,,, you have to prove it.

      Report Post »  
    • RedDawn2012
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 3:35am

      The bad boys in my high school in the 50′s would put straight pins through erasers torn from pencils and shoot them through straws into the backs of us good guys in study hall. Damn, that hurt!

      Report Post » RedDawn2012  
  • hi
    Posted on May 27, 2012 at 10:24pm

    I bet my son could figure it out. Physics and Calculus come easy to him. Turning in homework on time doesn’t. He is an absent minded genius.

    Report Post » hi  
    • nelbert
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 10:43pm

      No offense, HI. But I’ve had my fill of “absent minded geniuses” in my physics and calculus classes.
      Before donning the title genius, absent minded or otherwise, the student needs to actually do something meritorious. Daydreaming and telling me how really very bright he or she is doesn’t cut it. Most of these “absent minded geniuses” end up with such low GPAs that they can’t get into a good school, but this way they can continue to complain about how the “system” let them down.

      Report Post » nelbert  
    • Glock31
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 10:55pm

      yeah, whatever HI

      Report Post » Glock31  
    • filiusdracul
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 11:09pm

      No offence Nelbert, but no one needs to do something meritorious to be a genius. They only have to have the capacity for it. I have been called a genius and I had a 1.8 gpa in high school. My real education started after college. When the system is set up to teach an average mind an established curriculum for the least amount of money, it actually alienates a lot of special minds. Grades and degrees are not necessarily a good gauge of intellectual prowess or potential value to society.

      Report Post »  
    • jzs
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 11:35pm

      filiusdracul, you sound like a genius to me. What have you done with your gift?

      Report Post » jzs  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 11:44pm

      JZS, That is truly racist of you, even if in a joking manner. Never expected that from you.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
    • Chuck Stein
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 12:19am

      @ rjjingadsden
      A progressive makes a racist utterance and you are SURPRISED? Seriously?

      Report Post »  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 12:45am

      NELBERT

      accomplishment has NOTHING to do with Intelligence.

      Self proclaimed example: Donald Trump.

      The intelligent ones often have an idea ( even know how to do it) , yet have no desire nor drive to follow through. This does not diminish said intelligence.

      Nor are the accomplishments of Donald insignificant

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 1:32am

      CHUCK STEIN, Surprised? No. Am just tossing the ball back into his court. He has all too often complained regarding that any disagreement with a person of color is discrimination and racism.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
    • burnteye86
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 3:54am

      Of coarse JZS is a racist. Liberal are by default. They just won’t admit it.

      Report Post » burnteye86  
    • right-wing-waco
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 5:01am

      If Obama had a son, he could NOT think like that.

      Report Post »  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 7:00am

      JZS is just evolving. DEMOCRATS cannot flip-flop.

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • Treaty
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 7:52am

      HI, no, LOL. Aptitude like Shouryya has isn’t something that an absent minded kid has. Totally different plane of thought.

      Report Post » Treaty  
    • poorrichard09
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:23am

      @Hi: Aren’t we all? : )

      Report Post »  
    • JRook
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 9:36am

      How about we focus on the kid who actually figured it out. Or is there a reason this group can’t praise him for his accomplishment.

      Report Post »  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:35am

      JROOK, You mean as you do when you more than often post nothing but insults toward others posting here, or at the persons who are the topic of the story.
      Yep, more of the Lib Way, “Do as I say, and not as I do!”
      This is one super intelligent young man and does deserve that pat on the back. I hope he does well for himself and all of mankind in his future endeavors. Just hope he doesn’t turn into a Sheldon Cooper.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
    • nelbert
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:44am

      @FILIUSDRACUL

      You wrote: “No offence Nelbert, but no one needs to do something meritorious to be a genius. They only have to have the capacity for it.”

      The bar seems set pretty low for geniuses in your world.

      Capacity? I have the capacity to learn all languages, but I’m not a linguistic genius. Your “it’s all good” attitude pretty much sums up why we rank so poorly in education. Arguably, the worst disaster to American education has been that self-esteem BS that your comment suggests.

      As one who works with gifted students, my observation is that most of those who describe themselves as alienated “special minds” are in truth more lazy than special and, most critically, tend to be backed up by permissive parents. Why do you think that Asian-American students (1st generation) “take far more Advanced Placement (AP) classes during highschool than most other Americans.” (Business Insider, Vincent Fernando, 1/27/2010) It’s not that Asians are intrinsically better; it’s that they apply themselves and have parents who push them to do well.

      You state, “My real education started after college.” And just think how much farther along you might have gone had you started when you were still in school. Your “genius” status might then be recognized by the whole world, instead of just by yourself and close friends and family.

      Report Post » nelbert  
    • nelbert
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 11:04am

      @STOIC ONE

      You wrote, “accomplishment has NOTHING to do with Intelligence.”

      And who argued differently? But if one is to be considered a genius by more than just one’s parents and a few beer buddies, then one needs to be intelligent AND to accomplish something with that intelligence. Intelligence alone equates pretty much to the “absent minded genius” title that I was criticizing.

      Report Post » nelbert  
    • thejackal
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 12:05pm

      @Nelbert I.Q. has nothing to do with GPA…. Einstein got D’s in math douchewad. I will agree with you on one thing however, HI’s child is probably a total dolt. Whenever a parent brags like she does about her dumb kid, the kid usally turns out to be a total joke. To have a genius level I.Q. is one thing, to actualy do something productive and do what this guy Ray did, is another. Many ‘geniuses’ are so inept at many basic things that they functionaly useless to society. This Ray fellow is going places. HI’s kid maybe moving to the basement.

      Report Post » thejackal  
    • Orion the truth hunter
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 1:49pm

      @thejackal “Einstein got D’s in math ” is a myth and is incorrect. Einstein was studying calculus at 12 (http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2004/06/23/1115185.htm). As for your assumption about Hi’s kid, you do know what happens when you ASSUME, don’t you?

      Report Post »  
    • sick6james
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 4:37pm

      @NELBERT

      My reason for having such a terrible GPA in high school was due to the fact that I would skip class, mainly to be in the weight room for half the day or visit my girlfriend at her college (we’re now my wife), or simply just skip school to work. The system DID let me down, have you attended school from 2000 and on? You can simply show up on testing days (which I did) and pass. My GPA was terrible due to not turning in homework or receiving a grade for being marked as in my seat. I did enjoy my chemistry , business, weight lifting (football, hell yes), and calculus classes though, but I avoided English, foreign languages (Spanish, until Latin became available), algebra II, world history (blah blah, cavemen, communism, war crimes), sociology, psychology (I did sit in the first 6 weeks, BORING), and I think I even had an art class as an elective ( :-( no shop…). I am no genius, but I am smart enough to do my job well, make my family happy, and know right from wrong as well as personal character values that made me a better person. I’ll take being a smart average Joe over a “genius” OWS supporter any day.

      /2¢

      Report Post » sick6james  
    • Lt_Scrounge
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 5:49pm

      Technically I’m a genius. That doesn‘t mean that I’m ever going to truly reach my potential. I slept through about half of my high school classes and still left for college a year early on an academic scholarship. The problem was that my parents wanted me to go into law, and my mind is geared towards science. Four years later, I ended up with a degree in Political Science and history, a wife and a commission in the Army. I would’ve been a lot happier as a single enlistee in an MOS that involved working with engineering. Due to financial concerns, I have not been able to return to school for what I really enjoy, designing and building things. I‘ve had engineers tell me that I should patent some of the things that I’ve designed and built.

      Report Post »  
    • Chuck Stein
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 7:30pm

      @ Orion
      Thanks for your post. I am so sick and tired of the “Einstein stunk at math” nonsense. He wished his math had been better for the theoretical problems he was working on in physics after he graduated from the university, but that sort of math is beyond what I even studied (I had up to differential equations and linear algebra). Other Einstein myth: he was an atheist (nope — he repeatedly stated his beleif in God). Also, he was an interesting sort of “pacifist” — he believed that war was O.K. to meet an existential threat (most folks calling themselves “pacifists” are eager to throw themselves and their fellows into the maw of destruction to meet the pacifists sense of pride).

      Report Post »  
    • antiprogressive
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:48pm

      First off, congrats to the young man. The article didn‘t state the exact nature of the problem but apparently it is believed his work will help in the field of ballastics and I’m sure many other ways as well. Whatever the problem was, he did something no one ELSE has done. Good job.

      Second, apparently the Blaze removed JZS’s “racist” remark as I see nothing I would call racist…
      Nothing more I can say about that…

      Third, genius is often just a matter of seeing outside the box.
      A high IQ certainly helps to see things from a different perspective.
      So does weed.
      Not condoning it, don’t do it anyMORE – been YEARS, but it is true.
      Solving SIMPLE problems is often just a matter of seeing something differently.

      Reminds me of the sory of a semi truck 3 inches too tall to go under an overpass – backing up interstate traffic – untill the little child says
      “let the air out of the tires!’

      And last, accomplishments aren’t everything in being a genius.
      Yes, they show PROOF of aptitude and commitment to doing something never before done,
      but a person has to find what is important to THEM before taking on something monumental.

      Genius is a term BASED on IQ score.
      But I believe there are many with lower IQs that qualify.
      I see it largely as true commitment to solving something no one else has ever done.

      Report Post »  
    • jzs
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 9:26pm

      antiprogressive, you’re correct. Since I’m not racist, I don’t post racist remarks. Any remarks made to me to contrary are simply the right wing propoganda technique of accusing the others of their own shortcomings. For the ill informed, which is a large portion of the population it muddies the water enough that they don’t know what to believe.

      Report Post » jzs  
    • jzs
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 9:37pm

      antiprogressive, the Blaze didn’t remove any of my comments. But I was attacked by the tried and true strategy of accusing others of the things you feel most vulnerable to. That’s typical, I get that all the time. No, not being a racist, I don’t make racist remarks.

      Report Post » jzs  
    • Chuck Stein
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:18pm

      @ antiprogressive
      JZS lies again. His racist post was removed. Also, he is a racist. The post (as best as I can remember) stated something to the effect that the kid in Germany (of Indian heritage) was the wrong color and/or race to be a genius. In JZS’s book, that’s not racist. That alone tells the whole story.

      Report Post »  
    • nelbert
      Posted on May 29, 2012 at 6:20am

      @THEJACKAL

      You write, “I.Q. has nothing to do with GPA…. Einstein got D’s in math.”

      First, off, where, exactly, did you fantasize about my mentioning I.Q.?
      I wrote, “… one needs to be intelligent AND to accomplish something with that intelligence. Intelligence alone equates pretty much to the “absent minded genius” title that I was criticizing.“ Apart from the use of the word ”intelligence,” I don’t see any reference to I.Q. With such stellar reading and reasoning skills, I‘m guessing you’ve not been much burdened with the title of genius.

      And second, as Orion the Truth Hunter pointed out, that Einstein was a poor student is a myth invented so parents of poor students could have hope that their little darlings might still do great things.

      Report Post » nelbert  
    • nelbert
      Posted on May 29, 2012 at 7:13am

      @SICK6JAMES

      I’m not sure why you are even replying to my post? By your description of yourself, you seem to have been a below average student with adequate abilities to function in life. Bravo.

      You claim that the “system” let you down, but then you go on at length about how you missed school or failed to do the work. I don’t know if your grades and attendance were so poor that you should have been held back, but that seems to be the basis of your complaint. Yet here you are, able to form comprehensible thoughts and perform adequately in life. What result did you expect? Maybe someone should have poked and prodded you more, but maybe you share some of the responsibility here as well. By the way, that something is “boring” should not be an excuse used to defend not doing a job. The term is subjective and supports the notion that education should be fun time. I somehow suspect the OWS crowd grew up with that mentality, and I don’t think you want to be lumped in with them.

      I am fortunate to teach in a private institution where we have to provide a “value added” service. Even then, societal laziness is a problem – the notion that if it’s “boring,” then it need not be done. And thus I see “bored” American “geniuses” failing alongside their immigrant counterparts. (As mentioned before, the real distinguishing difference is in how they are pushed at home – American or immigrant).

      Report Post » nelbert  
    • sick6james
      Posted on May 29, 2012 at 7:20pm

      @NELBERT

      If you could have found a way to work full time to help your single mother put food on the table and help pay bills and go to class and have a life with the woman you were going to marry, I’d be impressed. The “system” didn’t fit me, and just because I f*cked off in high school (in terms of actually going to class) didn’t translate into laziness. Work, family, and love were vastly more important to me than school. If busting my ass at work on 3rd shift while also still graduating high school on time (even with skipping a good chunk of classes), and still being successful at being a good husband and not carrying any debt into my adult life is to be considered lazy, I must be the laziest motherf*cker in the room. I measure success by what my wife and family expect of me, not what the “system” has conditioned as to what it means to be “successful”. If the “system” worked so well, where in the hell are all of these “successful” people at? Oh, that’s right, they’re broke and voting Obama in 2012 or Occupying something or waiting on that “Obama money”…

      As for being a genius, no I’m not, nor did I claim to be. As for being a failure, I’m far from it. You go keep “teaching”, I’ll keep doing what I do, repairing electronics for a morons who can’t hold onto their cell phones or feel like sharing their Mountain Dew with their laptops. Business is booming.

      Report Post » sick6james  
    • nelbert
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 8:58am

      @SICK6JAMES

      Well, it is plain that you certainly never attained a very high reading and comprehension level, so maybe the “system” did fail you.

      Why are you on the defensive? The topic was about so-called “absent minded geniuses” – students who claimed to be exceptional (not adequate, not merely good, but exceptional) in intellectual ability but too indifferent to actually bother with performing well. You don’t even identify yourself as such, so I repeat, “I’m not sure why you are even replying to my post?”

      You say, “As for being a genius, no I’m not, nor did I claim to be. As for being a failure, I’m far from it.”
      So AGAIN, why are you bothering to comment? And where did anyone call you a failure? The only criticism I‘ve had for you is that you want to blame a system that you didn’t really follow. It’s a little like complaining that the government is broken while never bothering to vote.

      “Work, family, and love were vastly more important to me than school.”
      Bravo. You have the same values as most people. But stop thumping your chest as if your values are unique, and stop trying to be offended. There are far too many people in this country who love to play the victim card.

      You’re an electronics tech – great. I’m also one of two people who provide network and desktop support for the school. So when that “absent minded genius” downloads some malware or drops a laptop, I get to try and fix it in between classes. That and 50 cents buys a

      Report Post » nelbert  
  • Adalwulf
    Posted on May 27, 2012 at 10:21pm

    Let’s all raise our glasses to this fine young man (and his supportive family). Exceptionalism like this will lead us into a better world. When we strive to achieve the best rather than ensure that everyone’s self-esteem is “rewarded” we will all benefit.

    Report Post » Adalwulf  
    • ChristianConservative76
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 12:11am

      I agree! Some one let me know when these calculations start showing up on ballistic charts. That is going be some nice sub-moa groups.

      Report Post » ChristianConservative76  
    • blownaway
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 3:22am

      I agree also… congratulations to this intelligent young man and his Father… great job!

      Report Post » blownaway  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 12:46pm

      If I have to raise my glasses, I will not be able to finish this article. Einseine could not “tell-time”. When one of these “posts–people” found out he started learninng after gradeschool, h.s., college were finnished…just finding this out makes you a dummie. If you had said…”hey this is just goeing way to slow and very dull.”, when he finds a subject which is [totally delicious!] and goes after it, the “genious” begins to show. When your mind suddenly and uber-fast starts formulating answers in more than one(traditional) way…your genious shows a little more.
      In the early-70′s I knew a “genious-kid” who finnished university at 19yrs-old! One nite, he came with his parents to visit and show me some of his electronics-engineering homework. He had one channel of a stereo-power-amp he was designing for “lab-work credit”. I only had repair-courses” at DeVry. I looked at his schematics and some calculations….all of a sudden…I felt my mind go into a cold-sweat and uber-overdrive. I was drained of energy in only a few secconds-minutes(?). I was cold and shaking and tired…I made a few drawing changes in 3-4places and gave it back. He almost missed his chair!! As he looked it over, it was more efficient with a few less(redundent)parts an a few needed wires in certain places. That evening, he went home to do the soldering-changes. I went to bed trying to figure-out how I did it.

      Report Post »  
  • noleftturn
    Posted on May 27, 2012 at 10:02pm

    …. well done young Jedi!

    Report Post » noleftturn  
    • marybethelizabeth
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 10:08pm

      Where is American Exceptionalism when you need it?

      Report Post » marybethelizabeth  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 7:03am

      Barry has the exceptional progressives working on how to extricate blood from stones. They are failing at that also. like the rest of his policies.

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • Fubared
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 9:22am

      MBE
      It will hopefully be coming out the end of Exceptional American Firearms at a store near you soon. Does that piss you off or what? Ballistics have never been a forte of the left. Thanks again.

      Report Post »  
    • JRook
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:40am

      @Fubared @13th Imam Right you keep supporting our renewed war policies, particularly our unpaid wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and clearly if you have you way, Iran. While we flush more money down the military industrial complex. India, China, Germany, etc. will keep investing in their infrastructure, educational system, technology, etc. And our response is to cut taxes and spending on everything but defense. Since Korea, with the possible exception of the Kuwait invasion, the US has been nothing more than Zimmerman looking for someone to defend themselves against. And of course we are justified in shooting them because they wear hoodies. We are investing in the wrong things and our biggest threat is the concentration of wealth, which is the main reason economic activity is and will remain slow.

      Report Post »  
    • DGuy
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:41pm

      Notice how Jrook FAILS to mention Libya and the illegal war his boy Obama started there and all of the money that it cost us…

      Report Post »  
  • hugecatfish
    Posted on May 27, 2012 at 9:50pm

    YeaH, I don’t get it either. Take the patriot missile for example. They not only take gravity and air resistance into account, but also the fact that the intended target is traveling at 3000 mph and is also undergoing the effects of gravity and drag. All of that data is used to calculated a point of intercept. I don’t get it.

    Report Post » hugecatfish  
    • SageInWaiting
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 10:14pm

      It’s called a feedback loop. The launch solution gets it into the general neighborhood. Then from launch, external and internal sensors feed back the target‘s actual position relative to the missile’s trajectory and speed and the missile’s guidance system makes the necessary adjustments. The media smear “hit a bullet with a bullet” would be right if one of the bullets could steer. Still, it’s an amazing feat.

      Report Post » SageInWaiting  
  • WINNEBAGOMAN
    Posted on May 27, 2012 at 9:37pm

    Good work kid! I love seeing people succeed!

    I consider myself to be pretty smart. But Isaac Newton level physics… way, WAY out of my league.

    A lot of haters for this particular story. I say to the boy: “Bravo!”

    Report Post » WINNEBAGOMAN  
    • yathink
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 10:26pm

      Ya give credit where credit is due. He‘s a human being that’s good enough for me. Congrats young man.

      Report Post » yathink  
  • Inlightofthings
    Posted on May 27, 2012 at 9:36pm

    I must be an underachiever; I’m satisfied with having confidence the projectile will discharge when I pull the trigger…

    Report Post »  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on May 27, 2012 at 9:31pm

    …

    Smart kid. Good job. His parents must be swelling with pride.

    Wish it had been an America kid who solved the math problem. No chance of that, with the kind of teachers we have. Our schools are working too hard to dumb-down and indoctrinate our kids.

    Report Post »  
    • piper60
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 10:10pm

      Unfortunately, you are right. It’s almost like a re-distribution of intellect.

      Report Post » piper60  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 11:58pm

      LEADNOTFOLLOW, Such things will rarely come to American children of this day and age. With our schools in the complete grasp of liberals and unions its a wonder that they learn anything at all. We are developing a dumbed down society with fewer and fewer able to think for themselves. Luckily those born with a natural ability to perceive and develop an intellect will rise to the top.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
    • idarusskie
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 7:20am

      Note: His dad taught him higher mathematics. Its the parents and not the schools that make a great student. crack the whip and your child too will succeed.

      Report Post »  
    • rickg62
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:04am

      It would even be nice if our high school graduates could work in a store and make change.

      Report Post »  
  • Patrick Henry II
    Posted on May 27, 2012 at 9:25pm

    Not new sorry:

    http://www.hornady.com/ballistics-resource/ballistics-calculator

    Been around for years.

    Report Post » Patrick Henry II  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 1:43am

      Current ballistics solutions do not use calculus. the said solution used calculus.
      for any given challenge there will be many solutions.

      example: I can take a tree down by burning it; sticking explosives at the base, use a chainsaw and cut it at the base- or cut it limb-by-limb, a bulldozer and pushing it over. In this case it depends on the results I want.

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • Patrick Henry II
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:55am

      You can go either way with Hornady’s balistic calculator, typical of any math problem. I can take the impact point, as the given (as I do more times than not) or as the unknown. Depends if you want your scope to match the impact or the impact to match your scope. Then you can also throw in wind and spin drift if you want to get down to the brass tax.

      Report Post » Patrick Henry II  
  • Brainmuffin
    Posted on May 27, 2012 at 9:22pm

    Then what was that physics lab I did in college turning a 3rd order deferential equation into a computer program. Shell coordinates and velocity were given over a given interval. The wind resistance equation was given and could be included for extra credit. I guess it was all a farce?? **shrug**

    Report Post »  
    • Patrick Henry II
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 9:28pm

      Herman Cain did this stuff back in the early 1970′s. Nasa has been doing it for years. Hornady has the calculator on its website. I guess they are just from Nebraska though and do not count? This is B.S. news story.

      Report Post » Patrick Henry II  
  • batteredtaxpayer
    Posted on May 27, 2012 at 9:11pm

    Maybe he could teach Obama some basic math..you know..like spending only what you take in and no more? Must be too much gravity in Washington to cure the problem.

    Report Post »  
    • melatha
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 9:58pm

      Maybe he could teach him how to count as well they should start with how many states are in the U.S.A.

      Report Post »  
    • slenderbill
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 10:19pm

      not too much gravity in DC, too much hot air….

      Report Post »  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 12:49pm

      …or much less…and pay-off our nat’nl debt!!

      Report Post »  
  • rlewispitt
    Posted on May 27, 2012 at 9:09pm

    Hey “geniuses”, try to explain this math puzzle:
    It was in one of my college books. Explain how the following example uses known mathematic formulas yet still shows that 2 is equal to 1.

    a = b
    a squared = ab
    a squared – b squared = ab-b squared
    (a-b)(a+b) = b(a-b)
    a+b = b
    b+b = b
    2b = b
    2b/b = b/b
    2 = 1

    Report Post »  
    • eric6161
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 9:28pm

      That’s a silly problem… first error: if a=b then a^2-b^2=0

      Report Post »  
    • CubsWinOrRapture
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 9:32pm

      What if b=0? If it is, then you have division by zero, which is a violation of mathematical rules. To prove something is true, it must be true for ALL numbers in the domain, which in this case is all real numbers.

      Report Post »  
    • Brainmuffin
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 9:36pm

      As a and b are equal, the quantity (a-b) is 0. Dividing my 0 is undefined.

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    • DanielChapterNine
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 9:42pm

      After the 4th step, you can’t divide both sides by (a-b) without the stipulation that a != b. ie you can not dive by zero. This condition violates your initial statement.

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    • Stoic one
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 1:20am

      a+b = b
      the only way for this to be true is if a=0=b
      division by zero is infinity which is meaningless or invalid.
      this is assuming these are steps ..

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • Dr Vel
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 2:24am

      Not to mention Eric is wrong and so is a squared – b squared = ab-b squared. Say both a and b are = 5. The line I quoted then says 25 – 25 = 0; = (25-5) X (25-5) = 0 ; yet 20 squared = 400. Is this really from your college book? Must be a union run college.

      Clinton says fed spending less than last 60 years, all while BO spent more than G. Washington to G. Bush in under 3 years. Must be using the same math.

      Report Post »  
    • GumRock
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 3:08am

      17
      how’s that

      Report Post » GumRock  
    • Meyvn
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:24am

      That was stupid.

      Report Post » Meyvn  
    • Orion the truth hunter
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 1:53pm

      We had this problem in first semester HIGH SCHOOL freshman algebra. Division by zero is the trick. Now one for you: How far can a bear walk into the woods?

      Report Post »  
  • Mathchopper
    Posted on May 27, 2012 at 8:49pm

    A projectile from a 16″ cannon (say) will hit the same place every time. Under steady state conditions, I don’t understand why mathematicians said there was no real solution.

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  • Alvin691
    Posted on May 27, 2012 at 8:47pm

    Ok, now add wind and another chaotic effects. Boom!

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  • Firebrand
    Posted on May 27, 2012 at 8:41pm

    What’s the actual problem and solution?

    Report Post » Firebrand  
    • Artlife
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 9:01pm

      The problem: how exactly to calculate the path of a projectile under gravity and subject to air resistance.
      The answer would be an equation(s).

      Report Post » Artlife  
    • Firebrand
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 11:33am

      @rlewis
      Thank you for your input, but I meant mathematical “problem”. I found it anyway. The problem is that air resistance is dependent on size, shape, and mass (density). So if you set up a PROBLEM so that you have two globes that are dropped from two different heights, such that the higher one and the lower one reach the ground at the same time, negating air resistance for the lower one, you can determine the air resistance as the difference between them (if the globes are identical).

      The issue with that approach is that you can only get the mean air resistance over the whole path of the higher globe and acceleration isn’t accounted for. Basically, the air resistance would be equal at every point across the path. Newton knew that this wasn’t correct because air resistance has to change as acceleration due to gravity changed, because you are changing the number of air particles contacted per second. That means the opposing upward force (resistance) isn’t constant.

      Newton partly corrected for this by assuming that each air particle came in contact with the object only once and that the force from air was radially symmetric. This made the calculation “easier”. In 1996, researchers found that the force is not radially symmetric. That opened up a whole new mathematical can of worms, but allowed for the new calculation by the genius student. Cool, huh?

      Report Post » Firebrand  
    • Firebrand
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 12:42pm

      correction in my above comment: …as velocity due to gravity changed.

      Report Post » Firebrand  
    • scguitar
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 5:26pm

      I wish they would have posted the solution. I‘m an engineering major in school so I’m very curious

      Report Post »  
    • Brod546
      Posted on May 29, 2012 at 9:56am

      Here is what I have been able to find about his solution. http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/150242/teenager-solves-newton-dynamics-problem-where-is-the-paper . it seems he may have solved an impressive integral for someone his age, but for it to be useful numerical techniques (what they did before) would still be used. Also, I would like to add, he won second place in the competition he presented it at.

      Report Post »  
  • junior1971
    Posted on May 27, 2012 at 8:38pm

    Just what we needed. Another frekin einstein. I wonder what weapon will be built as a result of his dizzying intellect!

    Report Post » junior1971  
    • Puddle Duck
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 9:29pm

      stealth frisbee

      Report Post » Puddle Duck  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 1:02pm

      The gent forgot to add, that as air gets closer to the center of gravity, the molecules are atracted closer with the additional gravity-exerted(density increased at a linear rate). Thus, also slows decent the closer to the ground it gets.

      Report Post »  
  • I SPY
    Posted on May 27, 2012 at 8:36pm

    Here‘s a headline you’ll never read:

    “Kenyan Teen Solves Mathematical Riddle First Proposed by Sir Isaac Newton”

    Or solves anything else for that matter…

    Report Post » I SPY  
    • Sarah Louise Palin - Part Time Politician, Full Time Parasite
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 10:34pm

      Oh, I get it. You tried to make a joke. Since many dimwit neocon wingnuts believe that President Obama was born in Kenya and these same dimwit moron’s are so stupid that they also believe that President Obama is also stupid since they do not like being stupid alone, alas, misery and stupidity loves company! Well I Spy, it seems that any average run of the mill Kenyan teen is smarter than you based on your comment and beliefs.

      Report Post » Sarah Louise Palin - Part Time Politician, Full Time Parasite  
    • trappedinwv
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 11:03pm

      As does most of th presidents family.

      Report Post »  
    • finky555
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 12:16am

      @Sarah insulter, being born to an Italian mother and a Canadian-Italian father, I can honestly say that through 60 years I have never misspoken my place of birth, nor has my wife ever inadvertently mistaken my place of birth. Both obamas are on record misspeaking Barrack’s place of birth as Kenya. I can’t say I have ever heard anyone ever misspeak their origin. If the majority of Americans don’t believe obama was not born in Kenya, it is because of his own misdirection.

      Report Post » finky555  
    • Fubared
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 9:40am

      Parasite
      “Average run of the mill Kenyan teen”…. hahahahaha. Aspiring to 5 heads of cattle for the fam and an old beat up mahdi knock off ak. Hahahahaha. Parasite is apt.

      Report Post »  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:55am

      FULL TIME PARASITE, Wow, somebody makes a joke regarding the world‘s most questionable man’s personally obfuscated past and the likes of you just lower yourself to casting insults. If you want to paint yourself as such the intellectual, I would imagine that you would truly be interested to discover the truth. This man and his minions have fed us all so much pure BS that the really intelligent mind has to ask questions….and not fall for the fairy tales that we have been told so far.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
  • Maxim Crux
    Posted on May 27, 2012 at 8:29pm

    Great, another smart guy who will be exploited into making technology that will destroy us all more efficiently. No intended offense against the man himself.

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  • flat_top_particular_about_the_point_it_makes
    Posted on May 27, 2012 at 8:22pm

    I doubt he solved it without an American’s help. If we weren’t so busy protecting freedom many of here on this board could have solved it quite easily.

    Report Post »  
    • muzikant
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 8:37pm

      Not with our indocrinating poor public education system…

      Report Post » muzikant  
    • sndrman
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 9:12pm

      RLLEWISPIT don’t be so down on our education system….the teaches union and the democretins want our children to learn their abc but just to the letter d so they know how to vote…….and everyone gets a trophy even if you fail,we don’t want the lazy(notice i said lazy) kids to feel bad……..hope this presidents kids are fair about sharing their grades with the less fortunte children who get D‘s and F’s hope his girls step up to the plate and say here take part of my A so we can both have C’s……fair and equal right?

      Report Post »  
    • eric6161
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 9:24pm

      It doesn’t matter that 80% of college grads can’t read or write. It’s only the 10% of the population that create anything… the rest just covet the creations of others and thus we have wars.

      Here is another fact that has been debated and which the progressives refuse to believe – 1/2 of all American students are below average in intelligence.

      Report Post »  
    • trinklefinder
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 10:10pm

      geez rlewispitt lighten up why dontcha. folks are all different, some of us just aint born with the book smarts. different folks have different things they excel at. you dont havta be such a condescending jackwad.

      Report Post » trinklefinder  
    • chips1
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 10:23pm

      ERIC:
      Isn’t that called the BELL curve?

      Report Post »  
    • Sol Invictus
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:03am

      @Chips1
      Love Eric’s point. My favorite headline of all time was on an evening newspaper that said “half of all exam results this year are below average”. Wish I’d kept the paper, you couldn’t make it up.

      Report Post » Sol Invictus  
  • Want our country back
    Posted on May 27, 2012 at 8:21pm

    Great to see…

    Maybe in Germany they still teach that 1 + 1 = 2 not like the obama math

    Report Post » Want our country back  
  • moussiagilda
    Posted on May 27, 2012 at 8:21pm

    That’s just how life is these days. The God who created us is solving all our problems, through our actions, which come from free will.

    Report Post »  
    • Pontiac
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:09am

      Stop crediting your imaginary sky daddy for the hard work humans, other than yourself, are doing.

      Report Post » Pontiac  
  • proliance
    Posted on May 27, 2012 at 8:19pm

    Some people still say a curve ball is just an optical illusion. Maybe he could prove them wrong once and for all.

    Report Post » proliance  
    • TSUNAMI-22
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 9:34pm

      You think curves are hard to hit?, try hitting a knuckle ball pitch.

      Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 10:31pm

      Only if it curves up.

      Report Post »  
    • proliance
      Posted on May 28, 2012 at 12:00pm

      rlewispitt, I play baseball as a kid, like most of us. What’s that got to do with anything?
      The question is does a curve ball “break” at a certain distance or does the path of the ball maintain a constant curve through its entire path.

      When a pitcher serves up a good curve ball it seems to follow a straight path until it gets a certain distance from the plate, then it will break. I say it doesn’t break, but it curves its entire path.

      What I’m saying, is that this may be able to be mathematically proved.

      Report Post » proliance  
  • cashprize
    Posted on May 27, 2012 at 8:18pm

    Wish he had come to the USA. We can use more people who believe in doing what others think is impossible these days.

    Anyway, I guess we will see where he actually ends up in todays world. If he challenges the status
    quo too much, they may not like it.. This would match what they are doing with those scientists who
    are doing great work with plasma and electrodynamics.

    Happy Shavuot (Pentecost) for those that don’t know what this is,you can read more below.
    http://www.examiner.com/article/shavuot-the-feast-of-pentecost

    Report Post »  
  • 65Mustang
    Posted on May 27, 2012 at 8:17pm

    What a genius, too bad our students cannot do as well…doesn‘t say much for this country’s over-worked, under-paid union teachers. He was a product of intelligent genetics.

    Report Post »  
    • cykonas
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 8:41pm

      What I got from reading this story is that a very, very dedicated parent instilled in his child the basics of a particular mathematical discipline and an intellectual curiosity. The child then continued to pursue his passion and solved the centuries old question.

      My point being maybe that maybe what we really need is more parents who care about and get personally involved in their child’s academic performance, rather than simply cry about the schools, teachers and unions.

      Report Post » cykonas  
    • RetUSAFVet
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 8:47pm

      I think you have it reversed. It should be “under worked and overpaid union teachers”.

      Report Post » RetUSAFVet  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on May 27, 2012 at 8:02pm

    Amazing; yet according to the same account on the Drudge Report link, he actually has solved a second problem of another mathmatician as well. We may be seeing the next Einstein or Hawkins in the crafting.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
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