Physics Myth Month - Einstein Failed Mathematics?
Today's addition to the list of Popular Physics Myths is that Albert Einstein failed in mathematics courses.
When growing up, I remember being frequently told the proverbial stories about Einstein as a child, how he did poorly in school and even failed in mathematics. While Einstein was not necessarily the best student in class, he never did particularly poorly in school, aside from a handful of instances where he ran afoul of teachers that he didn't get along with. And he certainly never failed mathematics.
The relationship between Einstein and mathematics has always been a tenuous one. He considered becoming a mathematician, but chose physics because he felt it could lead to more significant truths about reality.*
Einstein frequently lamented his own problems in mathematics throughout his career, as he went on to revolutionize the field of physics. He frequently enlisted the aid of other mathematicians, including his first wife, to check his work for errors, and they were frequently found which has led some to believe that he was a bad mathematician and probably helped to give rise to the rumour.
Still, the fact is that Einstein had a very firm grasp on sophisticated mathematical concepts, even if he did occasionally need to enlist aid in formalizing his theoretical descriptions. He always understood the mathematics that he was working with once he was able to get help in hammering out the specific details.
*This was a notion that Einstein would revise years later, as he befriended logician Kurt Godel at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. Godel, ironically, had once considered becoming a physicist, but had chosen mathematics because he felt that it was more "perfect" and, therefore, could be used to more accurately describe the nature of truths about reality.
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Image: This iconic image of Einstein sticking out his tongue has been released into the public domain.
Comments
Thank you for helping to bust this myth.
Very well explored.
Please Mr. Einstein, look down on my (Freshman college student )Nephew from Physics Heaven and help him grasp the concept!
It is no myth, just reading his 1905 paper confirms the fact bad at mathematics
Seems to me that the real message here isn’t whether or not Einstein did as poorly in math as has been claimed by some, but that he had any difficulty with the subject at all, yet overcame his early academic (and personal) obstacles and went on to great accomplishments in physics, involving- of course- a lot of mathematical proofs. In short, he eventually found a way around his problems, and so can the rest of us- if we try, and keep at it!
Einstein’s theory can not be applied directly on Exotic phase changes observed-reg
Einstein formula m=mo/√1-v2/c2 can not be expressed or evaluated directly says Sankara Velayudhan Nandakumar as Exotic phase transitions to build his theory of gravity to be reevaluated supporting American New science requirement is surprisingly observed.For instance, at low temperatures liquid helium’s properties change dramatically, becoming a “superfluid” that can overcome friction. In fact, we are for co-opted the mathematics of exotic phase transitions to build our theory of gravity along the 12 magneto optic quantum sectors of space breaking the symmetry always along the plane of hologram. Mass changes to invisible disappearance at square √ root c velocity (1.414c) instead of further increase in mass to infinity at c velocity. Also typical ESP power of the brain to have future predication capability as destiny of space is already decided.
Research group working at Oxford-Cambridge-Anna University astro physics team with Sankara Velayudhan Nandakumar special officer on behalf of Loyola college nano technology dept Cape Institute of Technology,Nagercoil formerly with ,KNSK Engineering college ,Nagercoil as research scholar,Anna University with Hubble space research committee of Hon.Roger Davies,Hon.Collin Webbs FRS of Laser dn of Oxford uk,Hon.Marteen Rees ,Emeritus Professor of cosmology Cambridge ,former president of Royal society, London.
Sankara Velayudhan Nandakumar member PNAS,American on behalf of Loyola college of Engineering and technology ,Member American committee for the Weizman institute of science ,Energy renovation committee cape Institute of Technology,Nagercoil ,former Guest lecturer ,KNSK Engineering college ,Anna University have surprisingly found out genetic mirror
1) Your call CNSHD766034 regarding Einstein’s theory can not be applied directly on Exotic phase changes observed-reg has been received Outreach@stsci.edu
Faster galaxies fed by quasars by blackhole quantum dots confirm the possibility of mass disappearance at 1.414 velocity supporting the exotic phase changes involved as a drastic cahnge from infinity to mass disappearance.
Blackhole quantum dots feeding the quasar in effect producing surrounding galaxies producing more sun stars for digital circuits of blackhole quantum dots as a replicate of a blackcrystal-moon stone /green jade doped optonically become a scattering by absorption giving more energy perhaps faster optonic velocity as comparable with more than .5c perhaps may be responsible for faster galaxy buidup out of blackholes feeding quasar feeding surrounding galaxies.perhaps may cross a barrier as per exotic phase changes observed.
it’s not a myth… but yes he wasn’t a bad at math. for exemple he got trouble in learning TENSORS analysis and made some errors when constructing general relativity.
so, he was not a great mathematician compared to Gauss, Godel, Newton, Euler, Levi (who taught him Tensor analysis) but still better than 99% that surrounded him.