At that time, he was just 19 years old and studying at the University of G? ttingen in Germany. He loves mathematics, and those boring numbers, elusive formulas and geometric figures fascinate him. According to his tutor, he is not only talented in mathematics, but also works hard, so he may become an excellent mathematician. Therefore, after giving all the students math homework every day, the tutor who has high hopes for him will always give him two difficult math problems.
One day in late autumn, after dinner, he bent over his desk as usual and finished two math problems assigned to him by his tutor, which was successfully completed in less than two hours. Just as the two exercise papers were about to roll up, the tutor dropped a small piece of paper on his test paper. He picked up the note and found it was a math problem. He didn't think much, just thought it was another exercise assigned to him by his tutor, so he sat down again and buried himself in practice.
This is a particularly difficult exercise. In recent years, the tutor has never given him such profound exercises, and he feels unprecedented difficulties. He racked his brains, collected all the mathematical knowledge he had learned, and went all out to solve the math problem from all angles, but the effect was not great, and there was still no progress until midnight. Since the tutor has arranged it for me, it must have a solution to the problem, but I haven't found it yet. I have to do it! He thought with a frown
Compass, ruler, pencil, paper, he squatted on the desk to write and draw, and the drafts were filled with one after another: the pictures were scrutinized and scrutinized, but there was still no answer. He leaned against the table and closed his eyes for a few minutes. He thinks it is obviously impossible to find the answer to this question with conventional mathematical thinking. To solve this problem, it may be necessary to jump out of the traditional mathematical thinking habits and create a bright future. So, he readjusted his thinking, took out a thick stack of draft paper and threw himself into this inscrutable math exam ... When the morning bell of the distant church rang, he couldn't help laughing because his eyes were red and exhausted. He is glad that he finally solved the math problem. He hurriedly sent the answers to this problem and two other math problems to his tutor and said guiltily, "I'm sorry, the third problem written on a small piece of paper is really too difficult." I worked hard all night, but it was not bad. I finally solved it. "
"What little note is the third question?" The tutor was puzzled, but when he saw the answer to the young man's third question, he was immediately shocked. He asked the students in a trembling voice, "Did you really do this?" Looking at the surprised tutor, he nodded and said, "yes, teacher, I solved it, but I was really embarrassed." I actually studied this problem all night. " The tutor immediately pulled him down excitedly, tried to suppress his inner excitement and told him, "Now give me an answer again and let me have a look." Under the anxious gaze of the tutor, he solved the problem again and drew a positive 17 polygon on a draft paper. Holding the draft paper, the tutor was ecstatic and incoherent. The tutor told him excitedly, "You have created a great miracle in the history of mathematics in the world. This problem has not been solved for more than two thousand years. Archimedes could do nothing about it, and Newton didn't work out the answer. For more than two thousand years, many outstanding mathematicians have sighed when they read it, but you only solved the answer in one night, young man. You are a genius. "
Hearing this, he froze. Archimedes and Newton were both masters of mathematics. They didn't find the answer to the math exam. This math problem, which has not been solved for two thousand years, was conquered overnight. He was ecstatic and said to his tutor, "It's a good thing you didn't tell me the historical truth of this question in advance, otherwise I probably wouldn't dare to answer it rashly." The tutor said, "I didn't assign it to you either." I saw this problem elsewhere, copied it on a piece of paper, and prepared to study it slowly in the future. I didn't expect to give it to you in the test. I didn't expect it. You created a great miracle in the history of world mathematics for two thousand years overnight! "
The young man smiled excitedly: "What ignorance. If I know the historical truth of this problem, maybe miracles will be difficult to appear. " This young man is the world-famous math prince Gauss.
Ignorant and fearless. When we don't know how big the difficulty is, we often have the confidence and courage to challenge it bravely, but once we see the difficulty, we often shrink back and be scared away by it, which is the fundamental reason why many talented people eventually become mediocre.