The Boy with the Incredible Brain

Post by **obsidian** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:07 am

What's interesting isn't so much that this guy can do these calculations in his head, there have been other savants. What is interesting is the fact that he is fortunate enough to not have very many severe mental disabilities. So for once, scientists have someone who is able to describe what he is visualizing while doing these calculations.

Sounds like he's not really calculating numbers so much as just 'seeing' the answer in his head.

Post by **ToxicBug** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:10 am

Yeah, its extraordinary alright, but its just numbers, its not really mathematics. There is a guy in my class who has trouble calculating -1 + 2 in his head and yet he gets A+ in all his courses, except he got a B+ in actuarial (financial math), which is a very different kind of math compared to cal, linear and stat.

Post by **Wabbit** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:21 am

I can get A's in calculus and analytic geometry but I can't memorize all the times tables. It's the oddest thing. I can do 2s, 3s and 4s up to 4x5. That's it. Everything else I add and subtract fast to get the answer.

Post by **Massive Quasars** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:27 am

Wabbit was gifted with a male capacity for reason and logic, and afforded hansom masculinity to boot.

Post by **[xeno]Julios** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:34 am

ToxicBug wrote:Yeah, its extraordinary alright, but its just numbers, its not really mathematics.

what is "real" mathematics?

doesn't arithmetic count as a valid form of mathematics?

I understand, however, that nothing in that video demonstrates his abilities in other domains of mathematics, and that the title "mathematical genius" may be a bit misleading.

Post by **Wabbit** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:35 am

Massive Quasars wrote:Wabbit was gifted with a male capacity for reason and logic, and afforded hansom masculinity to boot.

jelus?

Post by **Massive Quasars** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:36 am

[xeno]Julios wrote:what is "real" mathematics?

doesn't arithmetic count as a valid form of mathematics?

He's having trouble articulating the distinction, but there's one to made. I wonder if Pext could expound on this?

Post by **Massive Quasars** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:41 am

Wabbit wrote: jelus?

relieve yourself of persistent melancholy using modern pharmaceuticals and make something of your life

Post by **Wabbit** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:43 am

Massive Quasars wrote:
Wabbit wrote: jelus?
relieve yourself of persistent melancholy using modern pharmaceuticals and make something of your life

I'm in the process thereof. No need for meds.

Post by **Massive Quasars** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:47 am

whatever works for you

Post by **ToxicBug** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 1:51 pm

[xeno]Julios wrote:
ToxicBug wrote:Yeah, its extraordinary alright, but its just numbers, its not really mathematics.
what is "real" mathematics?

doesn't arithmetic count as a valid form of mathematics?

You're absolutely right, arithmetic is a part of mathematics, just like algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, linear algebra, complex analysis, etc. However, arithmetic is a very basic field... I wonder if he can at least solve reasonably complicated triple integrals in his head or be able to visualize (mentally without paper) and quickly sketch surfaces produced by two variables, or sketch parametric curves and single variable curves of the form f(x)/g(x).

Post by **seremtan** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:10 pm

can you?

Post by **andyman** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:16 pm

xer0s wrote:This is so 2004.

yeah please get with the times.

old

Post by **ToxicBug** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 7:38 pm

seremtan wrote:can you?

no, but nobody calls me a math genius.

Post by **bitWISE** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 8:17 pm

Fuck...I wish I could have seizures and instead of dieing become a math wizard...

Post by **Tsakali_** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 8:32 pm

I don't really see any true advantages of what he is capable of, other than the fact that he can learn to speak foreign languages at a scary rate...in this day and age his math skillz are just a few buttons away... the best thing he can offer is to be a guinea pig... I don't think his capabilities warrant any higher intelligence in the generic meaning of the word

Post by **[xeno]Julios** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 8:37 pm

Tsakali_ wrote:I don't really see any true advantages of what he is capable of

it's more about the fascinating way in which he experiences the world, and in how he does the calculations.

Post by **mrd** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 8:40 pm

Tsakali_ wrote:I don't really see any true advantages of what he is capable of, other than the fact that he can learn to speak foreign languages at a scary rate...in this day and age his math skillz are just a few buttons away... the best thing he can offer is to be a guinea pig... I don't think his capabilities warrant any higher intelligence in the generic meaning of the word

I think scientists just want to study his brain structure to see if we normal humans can't tap into the same level of innate ability that he has.

Knowing 7 languages fluently would be fucking awesome, at least to me. I would learn different ones than he has chosen, but it'd still be very useful.

Post by **Nightshade** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 8:53 pm

ToxicBug wrote:
seremtan wrote:can you?
no, but nobody calls me a math genius.

*clamps hand over mouth*

j/k, you're better at it than many.

Post by **Tsakali_** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 9:02 pm

heh, if he is so consistent with mathematics, then it would be pretty interesting if a formula can be derived which would give the specific shape he envisions for numbers, but maybe not since the conventional could prolly not explain the unconvetional

Post by **[xeno]Julios** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 9:08 pm

Tsakali_ wrote:heh, if he is so consistent with mathematics, then it would be pretty interesting if a formula can be derived which would give the specific shape he envisions for numbers, but maybe not since the conventional could prolly not explain the unconvetional

I think the specific shape/colour/texture/emotion/etc for each colour is somewhat arbitrary.

It's the way in which these shapes interact - their topographical transformations, etc. which seems to hold the key.

Post by **hax103** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 9:32 pm

[xeno]Julios wrote:
ToxicBug wrote:Yeah, its extraordinary alright, but its just numbers, its not really mathematics.
what is "real" mathematics?

doesn't arithmetic count as a valid form of mathematics?

I understand, however, that nothing in that video demonstrates his abilities in other domains of mathematics, and that the title "mathematical genius" may be a bit misleading.

I think Toxic means something like "mathematics which a mathematician would respect" which I agree with. A computer can multiply 1000 numbers in a millisecond. Is it a genius? Is it even intelligent? to both questions any expert would say no.

i think that when anyone stares at a problem long enough they w'll get faster and more intuitive, less serial about it. when i tried the rubiks cube the first time it was a real puzzle (hours to solve it). having played with it for a week, i could solve it without thinking in under 90 seconds. No conscious rules, just some moves made sense after awhile.

i think they are demoting "genius" down to simply any quirky ability which you don't immediately understand. Is someone who can count instantly the number of words in a sentence a genius? is someone who can calculate the restaurant tip in his head instantly a genius? i don't think so.

Post by **bitWISE** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 9:37 pm

mrd wrote:Knowing 7 languages fluently would be fucking awesome, at least to me. I would learn different ones than he has chosen, but it'd still be very useful.

I agree. I'm also betting a programmer could benefit from similar skills.

Post by **iambowelfish** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 4:47 pm

mrd wrote:
Tsakali_ wrote:I don't really see any true advantages of what he is capable of, other than the fact that he can learn to speak foreign languages at a scary rate...in this day and age his math skillz are just a few buttons away... the best thing he can offer is to be a guinea pig... I don't think his capabilities warrant any higher intelligence in the generic meaning of the word
I think scientists just want to study his brain structure to see if we normal humans can't tap into the same level of innate ability that he has.

There was this device in the news a while ago that was supposed to let non-savants access savant abilities.

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0, ... page_prev2

Post by **Pauly** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:51 pm

Lol he was born in Barking. Me too. That explains a lot.

I mean the part where I have an enormous brain, not the bit about being a huge geeky nerd.