Author Topic: Iraqi Immigrant Teen Solves 300 year old Math Problem  (Read 13653 times)

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Offline Robin-Graves

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Re: Iraqi Immigrant Teen Solves 300 year old Math Problem
« Reply #15 on: June 07, 2009, 02:37:06 PM »
My fastest time with the cube was just under 2 minutes, and 2 of the moves I invented myself (although someone had probably fallen upon them before me somewhere).  I still do it today and take about 4 minutes at a nice leisurely pace.

I usualy did it while discussing occult philosphy with a group of pagans I talk to once in a while.
It helped me think.
I keep my standards low.
That way im never disapointed.

Offline Discover99

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Re: Iraqi Immigrant Teen Solves 300 year old Math Problem
« Reply #16 on: June 07, 2009, 02:49:05 PM »
wow that's amazing, i love to hear these kind of storys, and that he wants to work on his social skills at the age of 13 is just so cute and geeky isn't it?

  i usually ended up popping the blocks off and putting it back together "solved". 
same here, i never solved it

I usualy did it while discussing occult philosophy with a group of pagans I talk to once in a while.
It helped me think.
this just made me lol what kind of stuff were you talking about, the edda? i've never met any pagans in real life, must be interesting. i think there are very different kind of pagans out there



Offline jacktheripper305

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Re: Iraqi Immigrant Teen Solves 300 year old Math Problem
« Reply #17 on: June 07, 2009, 11:30:15 PM »
Awesome. Good for him, I'd be interested to know how he did it. Even if it is beyond my understanding.

Offline Robin-Graves

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Re: Iraqi Immigrant Teen Solves 300 year old Math Problem
« Reply #18 on: June 07, 2009, 11:33:29 PM »
wow that's amazing, i love to hear these kind of storys, and that he wants to work on his social skills at the age of 13 is just so cute and geeky isn't it?
same here, i never solved it
this just made me lol what kind of stuff were you talking about, the edda? i've never met any pagans in real life, must be interesting. i think there are very different kind of pagans out there




Basicaly Strega,, theyre good folks.
Im pretty close freinds with a couple of them.
I keep my standards low.
That way im never disapointed.

Offline Discover99

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Re: Iraqi Immigrant Teen Solves 300 year old Math Problem
« Reply #19 on: June 08, 2009, 09:37:37 AM »
^ weird can't seem to find any information on them

Offline davidsolomon83

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Re: Iraqi Immigrant Teen Solves 300 year old Math Problem
« Reply #20 on: June 08, 2009, 09:48:27 AM »
^ Hey Disco  :) maybe this will help:

Spoiler (hover to show)

I think Rob means this, more or less  ???

Offline knownassociate

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Re: Iraqi Immigrant Teen Solves 300 year old Math Problem
« Reply #21 on: June 08, 2009, 10:58:58 AM »
I pointed this thread out to my young hooligan. He is, as many of you know, very gifted. At 12 (this year) during one of our myriad meetings, the teachers/ staff and assorted reps. from agencies I've involved seeking an appropriate education, admitted being at a loss on how or what to do with him. They don't like the fact he skipped several years of school and is now in high school at 12. We were informed they know if they were to put the high school equivalency exams in front of him, he would ace them. But 16 is the minimum age he can take them. Anyway, he figured out a method that cuts two steps off of the accepted and long-used way of solving certain Geometry/Alg./Trig. He was marked incorrect because he didn't use the standard theorem, even tho' his answers were correct and it worked every time. He does most math in his head, while others are using graph. calcs.

Kids are scary smart these days, but instead of being encouraged, teachers focus
their efforts on forcing the kids to just do things in a certain prescribed manner, squashing their creativity. It is so good to hear one found his way to people who were willing to listen!

Offline hmed2390

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Re: Iraqi Immigrant Teen Solves 300 year old Math Problem
« Reply #22 on: June 08, 2009, 02:22:31 PM »
Wow, very smart kid, you must be extremely proud. :)

Kids are scary smart these days, but instead of being encouraged, teachers focus
their efforts on forcing the kids to just do things in a certain prescribed manner, squashing their creativity. It is so good to hear one found his way to people who were willing to listen!

I agree 100%.
A person who won't read has no advantage over one who can't read. -Mark Twain

Offline knownassociate

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Re: Iraqi Immigrant Teen Solves 300 year old Math Problem
« Reply #23 on: June 09, 2009, 04:20:57 PM »
I like him :P It is just exhausting, emotionally, intellectually and physically, raising a kid like him. I suppose it would be easier with a family support system to fall back on. But he is non-stop entertainment! ;D

Offline Robin-Graves

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Re: Iraqi Immigrant Teen Solves 300 year old Math Problem
« Reply #24 on: June 10, 2009, 04:22:01 PM »
Forget it if your a kid and you want to learn anything. It seems ( after talking to my sons teachers over the years) that if a kid thinks " outside the box" they get dosed up with ridalin.
 God forbid a kid has any aspirations to do anything significant with theyr lives.
Did you know that in the US the schools arent alowed to teach the US Constitution anymore?
Yep,, sad but true.
I guess if we dont know our rights, we cant fight back against the conformists.
I remember when going to college meant that you were tought to think for yourselves. but unfortunately, that lead to people actualy making informed decisions about important things that involved their lives.l
Cant have that now, can we?
I keep my standards low.
That way im never disapointed.

Offline hmed2390

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Re: Iraqi Immigrant Teen Solves 300 year old Math Problem
« Reply #25 on: June 10, 2009, 04:45:52 PM »
Did you know that in the US the schools arent alowed to teach the US Constitution anymore?

I can never understand that one. It's bless'ed ridiculous.
A person who won't read has no advantage over one who can't read. -Mark Twain

Offline Robin-Graves

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Re: Iraqi Immigrant Teen Solves 300 year old Math Problem
« Reply #26 on: June 10, 2009, 04:47:44 PM »
Yeah, tell me about it. I had to learn it in 10th grade word for word.
I keep my standards low.
That way im never disapointed.

Offline hmed2390

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Re: Iraqi Immigrant Teen Solves 300 year old Math Problem
« Reply #27 on: June 10, 2009, 04:51:55 PM »
ha, and to those that DO decide to further educate themselves are branded as extremists,terrorists, or accused of forming some sort of secrecy against the government. bless'ed twisted man. Love my country, hate those holding the reins though.
A person who won't read has no advantage over one who can't read. -Mark Twain

Offline Robin-Graves

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Re: Iraqi Immigrant Teen Solves 300 year old Math Problem
« Reply #28 on: June 10, 2009, 05:03:52 PM »
Like I always said. I love my country, but im scared to death of its leaders.
I keep my standards low.
That way im never disapointed.

Offline knownassociate

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Re: Iraqi Immigrant Teen Solves 300 year old Math Problem
« Reply #29 on: June 11, 2009, 01:45:58 AM »
I've always made sure that the young hooligan has the tools to learn, as I could. I taught him some basic Latin early on so he could have a better grasp on vocabulary. The parts of history not taught in school. Being Native American, he has learned much from the stories passed down that touch many facets of life. Math, he has just always known that. We did a lot of American government homeschooling. The high school he attends one must qualify to attend. It is a small, privately funded,and has a unique technology based curriculum.  But the first things cut from each yearly budget is monies to libraries, schools, gifted and special ed, and health care.