The study of mathematics carries many challenges, as well as many interesting secrets you will uncover in the process. The world of the pyramids, the Fibonacci sequence, Leonardo’s golden ratio, and countless other wonders will gain a completely new dimension with mathematics. The magic of numbers and figures has engrossed us for millennia. Here are just a few interesting facts to illustrate the amount of respect they command in different world civilizations. In 1995, the people of Taiwan were permitted to remove the number 4 from all street numbers, as it is pronounced the same as the word for death in Chinese. For the same reason, many hospitals in China do not have a 4th floor.
Did you know that Google isn’t a random browser name, but a mathematical expression for the number Googol, accidentally misspelt? Googol is the number written as one followed by 100 zeroes. The term was coined by a 9-year-old, Milton Sirotta.
Did you know that renowned mathematician Grigori Perelman turned down millions of dollars in prize for solving a mathematical problem, saying: “I know the secret of the cosmos, I don’t need money.”
These, as well as many other anecdotes, stem from a great love of mathematics. However, it is also very important to learn math well in order to be able to handle money quickly and accurately, or to understand economics—in general, in order to be in the position to judge the world around you more efficiently.
Have a look at the Hi5 math quiz and check how well you know mathematics.
Finally, once you master numbers, it won’t seem quite so hard to become number one in anything you set your mind to.
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