On June 5438+08, Alibaba Dharma Institute announced that it would launch a mathematics competition on a global scale. After official website signed up for the competition, the 20 interviewees who found the best solution within 48 hours will receive a million scholarships, and will also get regular guidance opportunities from top mathematicians.
The purpose of this competition is to promote the whole society to see the value of basic science, especially mathematics, and attract more resources to participate in the research of mathematical science and the cultivation of mathematical talents.
Zhang, a famous mathematician in China, one of the consultants of this mathematics competition, commented in the live dialogue: "This is a great thing. Enterprises pay more and more attention to the basic science of the country and the nation. This is the trend. You can feel it when you return home. Alibaba has made a good start here. "
"Mathematics is the language most likely to talk to aliens."
At the scene of the dialogue, the netizen "zingerle" asked an interesting question: "Language is a symbol system, and the sounds and glyphs we use are all a symbol system, and mathematics will also be studied with the help of the symbol system. So what are the similarities between mathematics and language? "
This question comes from last year's science fiction film Coming. Through the study of symbols, human linguists have successfully talked with aliens who came to the earth, and have the ability to predict the future by mastering language. Zhang believes that if aliens really exist, mathematics is the most likely language for all things in the universe to communicate.
"The first time I heard about this science fiction film, I admired the author's imagination. Very interesting and can predict the future. " Zhang said that if you use human language, no matter whether you speak Chinese or English, aliens will certainly not understand, but we are in the same universe, and even if there are aliens, mathematics will have to be * * *. "Pythagorean theorem, assuming that the alien's eyes can see, he also has vision. Write Pythagorean theorem, right triangle, three sides and formula there. This is the universal law of the universe, and they will certainly understand. "
"Mathematics should disperse calculus to high school"
In this dialogue, Zhang paid special attention to mathematics education. Netizen "Lu Yaozou" is engaged in molecular spectroscopy, astrochemistry and other research. He is very concerned about the current policy trends of mathematics education. He hopes to introduce the basic concepts and consciousness of calculus and linear space into middle schools, so that students who have not enough to eat can get in touch with the charm of advanced mathematics earlier.
Zhang didn't answer this question directly, but talked about his views on the middle school mathematics competition. "I like those competition questions in middle school very much now. For me, some problems can't be solved at once, but I think it's very interesting. "
Subsequently, he also clearly expressed his opposition to the "Olympic fever" in previous years. Is it too much for all primary school students to spend so much time not playing and stop cram schools on Saturday and Sunday?
For children who really love mathematics and have the spare capacity to study, he is in favor of sending the elementary part of calculus and linear space to high school. After all, students' hobbies or talents vary from person to person. "But don't get too deep at once. Students generally feel that they can't accept it."
"People in China are better at math than Americans."
Having lived in the United States for many years, Zhang has a deep understanding of the gap between China and the United States in basic mathematics literacy. When talking about how to strengthen mathematics literacy, he told a story of personal experience.
"For example, if I buy something in China and the price is 34 yuan, I will give it to him as 50 yuan. Nine times out of ten, I will ask you if you have 4 yuan or 5 yuan, and he can find less. " It is hard for Americans to understand why they should give more change. "I live in a place near the sea in California, USA. I go to the beach to buy some seafood on weekend morning. Most of my business people are Mexicans. He won't change money and won't do subtraction. "
"Ali has made a good start again."
At the end of the conversation, the topic inevitably came to the math contest held by Alibaba. Zhang unabashedly boasted: "This is a good thing, which means a beginning. Enterprises pay more and more attention to the basic science of the country and the nation. This is a trend. When I returned to China, I could feel that Alibaba had made a good start here. "
This is also the most important reason why Zhang is willing to participate in this competition as a famous mathematician. "At least through this activity, we can awaken the public or the whole society to pay attention to mathematics, and even Alibaba and Ma Yun will come to engage in mathematics. With this beginning, we can explore which new road we should have and how to make the direction better. Mainly how to be more effective in practice. "
He has higher expectations for the future of mathematics. He hopes that with the help of this contest and Alibaba's global influence, mathematics can directly enter the enterprise to generate value. "Now it involves big data and artificial intelligence, and mathematics itself has many potential things. This is a start, and we can go further in this regard. "