What does it feel like being a maths genius?

[qazser]

Just posting the question out there. Do you naturally get all the concepts or do exercises twice the speed of normal people? Please share your insight

[keltingmeith]

I just open the book, look at the question, and the answer is there. I don't even have to read the question, I just know what the answer is.

All jokes aside, though, I don't think anybody who is considered a "maths genius" really sees themselves as anything special. Personally, I don't think I'm a maths genius, but I've been called it a few times (#humblebrag) - all I do is sit down, look at all the information I've been given, and work through the problem one step at a time.

[YellowTongue]

Just posting the question out there. Do you naturally get all the concepts or do exercises twice the speed of normal people? Please share your insight

I don't think anything in Maths comes naturally to anyone (though I know nothing of human psychology...). Yes, some people may seem like "geniuses", but often they work hard to be in such a position.

[Swagadaktal]

if people say that they barely study, and do like 3 practice exams for a subject and get a 50, then they're lying or they're just a born genius, but what are the chances of coming across those people
a lot of people on AN claim to study less than they do, and some people claim to study more than they do
all you gotta do is study till the questions become easy

[MightyBeh]

I don't consider myself a 'maths genius' at all, but I really enjoy maths and I think it shows in my work. If I were to finish an exercise faster than anyone else, it's probably that I've already done it on khan academy or I didn't stop after every question to complain about how terrible maths is and how I wish it was time to go home.   

Easy, guys... I put my maths on just like the rest of you - one side at a time. Except, once the LHS = RHS, I go to Monash.

Fixed it 

[qazser]

i find those 'geniuses' are the ones who can consistently solve problems others can't do ex. get a perfect score in maths comps

[keltingmeith]

Fixed it 

Alright guys, MightyBeh just won the thread, we can all go home now.

But yeah, pretty much everyone else here hit it on the head. Hard work = happy times.

[Orb]

Just posting the question out there. Do you naturally get all the concepts or do exercises twice the speed of normal people? Please share your insight

You go to Scotch, so someone like Mchen is considered closer to a genius like someone like Mich. One does 100 exams and countless work to get a 50, the other does 2.

[heids]

In maths, hard work alone won't get you far without that understanding of what the hell's going on.  I was the sort that learnt the 'formula' for solving problem type X by doing it fifty times.  It works, 80% of the time.

But for that other 20%, you've got to spend the time to really get it and figure out why you're doing what you're doing.  This requires thinking deeply, watching vids that explain it in different ways, creating analogies and models for it, and really trying to visualise what's happening in 3D.

For most of us, it takes heaps of time and effort to really THINK about what's going on and why.  For the geniuses, a short explanation and a few moments of thought is all it takes to 'click'.

[qazser]

You go to Scotch, so someone like Mchen is considered closer to a genius like someone like Mich. One does 100 exams and countless work to get a 50, the other does 2.

50 in Y11 is pretty freaky. But then Derick Ha did it in Y10

[Syndicate]

50 in Y11 is pretty freaky. But then Derick Ha did it in Y10

"Practice makes a man perfect"

[The Raven]

VCE is probably not the best indicator of 'maths genius' capability. If you want to look at real mathematic talent check out people who get awards in maths competition like the Melbourne Uni Maths Comp and prizes in the AMC. Even better, people who have qualified the Maths Olympiad Summer School, and at the very top, the people who have represented Australia in mathematics.

Despite how much hard work and effort you put into learning maths, you'll never be able to get into the Maths Olympiad Summer School without a large dose of natural ability. The way these people grasp mathematical ideas is quite frankly astonishing, and to these people, Specialist Maths is quite literally child's play considering that many of them have / could have done the hardest VCE maths subject back in Year 8. Often these people don't get 50s in VCE because 1) They don't really care and 2) VCE maths focuses on tricks and attention to detail while the Maths Competitions they have refined their talents on are based purely on pure mathematical intelligence and problem solving ability

[LoadedWithPotatoes]

https://terrytao.wordpress.com

Probably the closest definition of a math genius you could get, and his Australian as well.

[pi]

[not a maths genius here]

When I was in Tournament of Towns in year 8, there was this guy from Brunswick Secondary (I think). Tall lanky Caucasian guy with long blonde hair, he was a machine. Pretty sure he's well known in UoM maths circles, was incredibly talented. Probably the closest person I've met to being a "maths genius".

Also have a read about this guy if you're keen on a top-level mind https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grigori_Perelman

[Smashby]

VCE is probably not the best indicator of 'maths genius' capability. If you want to look at real mathematic talent check out people who get awards in maths competition like the Melbourne Uni Maths Comp and prizes in the AMC. Even better, people who have qualified the Maths Olympiad Summer School, and at the very top, the people who have represented Australia in mathematics.

Despite how much hard work and effort you put into learning maths, you'll never be able to get into the Maths Olympiad Summer School without a large dose of natural ability. The way these people grasp mathematical ideas is quite frankly astonishing, and to these people, Specialist Maths is quite literally child's play considering that many of them have / could have done the hardest VCE maths subject back in Year 8. Often these people don't get 50s in VCE because 1) They don't really care and 2) VCE maths focuses on tricks and attention to detail while the Maths Competitions they have refined their talents on are based purely on pure mathematical intelligence and problem solving ability

Gunning case in point.