Hermite was the greatest algebraic geometer in the 19th century, but he had to retake the university entrance exam 5 times, and the reason for each failure was poor mathematics.
He almost failed to graduate from university, and every time he failed in the exam, it was the subject of mathematics.
After graduating from university, he could not enter any graduate school, because mathematics was the subject that failed the exam.
Mathematics is his life's favorite, but the math test is his life's nightmare.
But this cannot change his greatness:
The "conjugate matrix" in the textbook was first proposed by him;
humans cannot solve "five times" for over a thousand years He solved the general solution of the equation first;
The "transcendental nature" of natural logarithm , he was the first person in the world to prove it.
His life proof: "A person who can't take exams can still have a winning life."
And, more amazingly, not being able to take exams has become a blessing for his life.
Actually, Hermite math is not really that bad, but he thinks:
The mathematics teaching atmosphere at that time was lifeless, and mathematics textbooks were like a pile of waste paper. The so-called people with good math scores were all Some second-rate people, because they only know how to make mechanical methods!
So he has been a problem student since he was a child, and always talks to the teacher during class.Especially some basic questions.
He hates exams especially, because if he fails the exam, the teacher will hit him on the foot with a wooden stick. This is one of the reasons why he regrets the math exam.
He wrote in a later article:
"The purpose of education is to use the mind instead of the feet. What is the use of kicking? Can kicking make people smarter?"
While resisting the exam, Hermite spent a lot of time reading the original works of mathematics masters, such as Newton and Gauss, because in his opinion, the "beauty of mathematics can only be found there."
He was old When returning to the customer’s frivolous youth, he wrote:
"Traditional mathematics education requires students to learn step by step, step by step, and train students to apply mathematics to engineering or business. Therefore, it does not pay attention to enlightenment. Students’ groundbreaking. But mathematics has its own beauty of abstract logic. For example, in solving multiple equations, the existence of roots is a kind of beauty. The value of mathematics is not only for daily application, nor should it be reduced. It is a tool for engineering and commercial applications. Mathematics still needs to constantly break through the existing pattern."
This easily reminds us of the famous " Qian Xuesen's question ":
"Why is our school always unable to cultivate outstanding talents?"
What kind of education can maximize the excavation and training of top talents?
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