Many people may find themselves “sweating” when learning about the life of Yao Qizhi.
Yao Qizhi was born on July 17, 1975, in Adelaide, Australia. He is of Chinese descent and holds Australian-American citizenship. He is renowned as a mathematical genius and has received numerous international awards for his research contributions.
In particular, Yao Qizhi possesses an extraordinarily high IQ, estimated to be between 220 and 230. This IQ score even surpasses that of great scientists like Stephen Hawking (160) and Albert Einstein (approximately 160 – 190)…
The Mathematical Prodigy Captivating the World: Expelled from School for Being Too Smart
It can be said that Yao Qizhi was born with an intelligence akin to that of gifted children. However, if we observe his growth and development, we can see that his family’s educational background played a significant role in his success.
Yao Qizhi displayed exceptional intelligence from a young age
Yao Qizhi was born into a well-educated family. His father graduated as a medical doctor from the University of Hong Kong, while his mother completed her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics at the same university with outstanding results. They fell in love while still in university and later moved to Australia in 1972.
At just 2 years old, Yao Qizhi exhibited extraordinary mathematical talent when his parents discovered their son teaching a 5-year-old to read and write numbers. When asked where he learned these skills, Yao Qizhi said he acquired the knowledge simply by watching the Sesame Street program on TV.
By the age of 3, his parents enrolled him in a private primary school. However, due to his young age and inability to integrate with older classmates, Yao Qizhi was sent back to preschool. The primary school teachers claimed that he was too intelligent, and all the teachers refused to teach him as they felt unqualified to educate such a prodigy.
At age 4, Yao Qizhi was expelled from primary school due to teachers’ incapacity to teach him
Afterward, within just a year and a half, Yao Qizhi completed the entire primary school curriculum with the help of his parents. His parents later enrolled him in the Australian Association for Gifted Children.
Under the dedicated teaching of his parents and clear guidance from educational experts, Yao Qizhi’s intellect continued to develop remarkably. He quickly surpassed his peers, especially demonstrating superior intelligence in Mathematics. It is known that the educational method designed specifically for Yao Qizhi emphasized flexibility and freedom of development. As a result, from a young age, he could nurture his love for research without the pressures faced by many other gifted children.
At age 5, Yao Qizhi returned to primary school and began studying the Mathematics curriculum for secondary school. By age 7, he published his first book on Mathematics. At age 8, he completed the secondary school curriculum and scored 760 out of 800 on the SAT. Previously, only two candidates had achieved scores over 700 on the SAT, both of whom were high school students. This demonstrated Yao Qizhi’s extraordinary intelligence.
At age 9, Yao Qizhi began studying Mathematics at the university level and subjects related to computer programming. At ages 10, 11, and 12, he became the youngest participant in the International Mathematical Olympiad, winning bronze, silver, and gold medals consecutively for three years.
Young Yao Qizhi receiving private instruction from the famous Hungarian mathematician, Paul Erdős.
In the following years, Yao Qizhi achieved numerous accolades that garnered widespread admiration. At age 14, he officially became a freshman at Flinders University (Australia). Two years later, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree, and subsequently completed his master’s program at the age of 17. By 21, Yao received his Ph.D. from Princeton University and was appointed as a lecturer at the University of California (USA). At just 24, Yao Qizhi became the youngest professor in the history of the University of California.
As of now, Yao Qizhi holds numerous records, including: the highest IQ score; the living mathematician with the most prestigious awards, honors, and national and international medals to date. At age 29, he received the MacArthur Fellowship, which is awarded annually to only 20-40 individuals who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents with outstanding achievements in various fields.
Also in that year, he won the Nobel Prize in Mathematics. Just two years later, he received the Fields Medal, one of the highest honors in the field of Mathematics. To date, he has made significant contributions to world Mathematics with over 300 articles, 17 books, and hundreds of research papers. With intellect ahead of his time, he is affectionately referred to as the “Mozart of Mathematics.”
Portrait of Yao Qizhi – one of the most outstanding mathematicians today
The Fulfilled Life of a Prodigy: Married to an Ordinary Person, Devoted to Mathematics
It is evident that Yao Qizhi displayed prodigious intellect early on and became famous while still young. However, unlike many other child prodigies, Yao’s talent continued to flourish, and he did not encounter psychological instability, which is often considered a common issue among children with exceptional intelligence.
This can be attributed to his family’s progressive educational methods. Yao’s parents have stated in interviews that they always emphasized freedom and comfort in raising a child. Although Yao had to study with much older children, his family ensured he had ample opportunities to engage in physical activities and play with peers his age.
Additionally, experts worked to develop Yao Qizhi’s educational program to promote well-rounded growth in line with the child’s abilities. As a result, Yao has maintained his love for Mathematics, a passion for his work, and the ability to communicate and connect with those around him.
The happy small family of genius Yao Qizhi
Currently, he resides in the United States, leading a fulfilling married life with a son and a daughter. Some people believe that his wife is just an ordinary person, with average looks, and therefore, does not match someone as talented and attractive as Yao Qizhi. However, after many years, Yao and his wife continue to enjoy a happy marriage, proving their strong bond.
