Amazing mathematical feat
 

This just baffles me. A guy can calculate, in his head, the 13th root of a 200-digit number in 72 seconds.

Link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_root

That is pretty nuts...man, I wish I could do that! I used to practice multiplying largeish numbers in my head, but those guys are on a completely different level:-P

A real mathematical feat-- check out Andrew Wiles' proof of Fermat's Last Theorem, which was thought to be unsolveable. He worked on it for 7 straight years, without telling anyone else what he was up to, which is highly unusual.

I have an uncle with Autism that can do stuff like that (and much more). Its pretty amazing.

Are these people idiot savants?

They're smarter than me. I'm jealous of anyone who can understand and manipulate mathematics. Is "manipulate" even the correct word?

Stories like this make me feel like Ralph:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1196190546.gif


Ralph: Lisa, what's the answer to number seven?
Lisa: Sorry, Ralph. That would defeat the purpose of testing as a means of student evaluation.
Ralph: My cat's name is Mittens

There's a big difference between "arithmetic" and "mathematics".

Still a pretty cool feat though.

I'll believe it when I see it...

Not as useful as an amazing foot.

+1

A lot of my non nerd friends think that I must be an idiot at my job since I obviously can't do arithmetic.

Was this the same individual challenged to learn Icelandic in a week? According to a documentary he did exactly that and went on an Icelandic talk show to be interviewed (in Icelandic)

I'm not sure, but from what I gather, he's trying to learn 40-100 languages. Now *that* is impressive....

Daniel Tammet

ABCnews.go.com/WNT/health/story?id=830166&page=1

after Ray spills a box of toothpicks on the floor...

Raymond: 82, 82, 82
Charlie: 82 what?
Raymond: toothpicks.
Charlie: There's alot more than 82 toothpicks, Ray.
Raymond: 246 total.
Charlie: How many?
Sally Dibbs: 250.
Charlie: Pretty close.
Sally Dibbs: There's four left in the box.

(One of my favorite movies of all time);)

+1

Hilarious!

Yes, but can he tie his shoe laces ?

Try this:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1196266866.jpg