He stumbled into the classroom out of breath. The lecturer had become accustomed to the. Student’S habit of arriving late. He finally made it to his seat and let out a sigh of relief. As he settled in, he was quick to make a note of the two issues that were written on the board. He was not at one who took pleasure in completing his assignments, and these appeared to be particularly challenging.
He had the impression that this was going to take some time in his head. Hello everyone, and thank you for joining us here on our channel. Here’s a tale about a young boy whose schoolwork ended up having a profound impact on the course of human history. You may ensure that you’d never miss a story by clicking on the small Bell symbol there.
George’s family was not an especially wealthy one when he was born, however, his parents were extremely intelligent people who had high standards for the children they raised. The famous author George Bernard Shaw inspired the naming of the baby’s name George. His parents had always harbored the dream.
That their first child would one day pursue a career in writing. His father had a background in both mathematics and linguistics. His mother had the same line of work, too. Following the family’s relocation to the United States of America, his father found work as a math teacher at the University of Maryland, College Park, while his mother found work as a linguist at the Library of Congress. When George was just a little boy.
George’s father began to test his son with difficult mathematical problems, primarily those using projective geometry. After some time had passed, George found himself developing an interest in geometry. Then George told his father about the encounter. During the time when I was still in high school, he sent me thousands of geometry homework. My dad gave me a lot of puzzles when I was growing up, and one of the best things about them was the mental challenge they presented.
My capacity for analysis was honed more than by anything else by the process of working through hundreds of puzzles at a time when my brain was still developing. Following graduation from high school, George made the decision to pursue a degree in mathematics at the University of Maryland, an institution in which his father held a teaching position. Because of their limited resources, his parents were unable to support their son’s attendance at a more prestigious University. But George didn’t seem to mind.
He put a lot of effort, and. In 1963, he was awarded his bachelor’s. Degree in mathematics and physics. Even though he didn’t bring home particularly impressive scores, his parents were nevertheless proud of him. During the summer of that same year. George fell in love with a lovely. Young woman named Annie, and by the fall of that year, the couple was married. After getting hitched, the couple moved into. Their new home and George immediately started his PhD studies in abstract mathematics.
George actually drifted further and further away. From his academic pursuits. As time went on, he was completely uninterested in the abstract nature of mathematics. George decided to give up his studies. Because the only lessons he’d actually enjoyed were the ones on statistics. On the other hand, George’s interest in statistics was never diminished. After a few weeks had passed, he. Started reading some statistics that have been compiled by Professor Naman, which piqued his curiosity.
In his letter to Professor Naman, George expressed his interest in working as a teaching assistant for him. George began his studies for his master’s degree all over again with naming as his advisor. George was late for class and was. Rushing to get there. He just started his freshman year at Berkeley and he was running way behind schedule. To get to his class, he sneaked in and sat down without anyone noticing. On the whiteboard, Naman had scribbled down two problems. George jotted them down in the margins of his book.
He reasoned to himself that it had. To be his assignment. George’s gaze was fixed on his book. For a considerable amount of time. What exactly were these difficulties? It appears that finding a solution to this problem would take several days. Perhaps he didn’t notice something vital at. The outset of the conversation. There was no way that he could. Seek for assistance while still admitting that he was running late. While George was pouring over his books, he came to the realization that the
Challenges were quite difficult.
He was very angry with himself for arriving so late. George became increasingly aware as the hours passed that he would not be able to hand in his assignment with the allotted time. Time passed on the clock. George hadn’t found a solution to the problem just yet. He searched through several books and came. Close to ripping out his hair in.
An effort to figure it out. On the other hand, he relished a good challenge. He took great pleasure in analyzing data and he was more resolved than he’d ever been to find a solution to the issues. After a few days had passed, George. Was beaming with happiness. It took him a long time, but in the end he was successful. He was curious about Naman’s response to the situation. George steadied himself before beginning his approach to the professor. Naman was hard at work at the time. George expressed his regret to Naman for taking such a long time to complete the assignment.
The challenge appeared to be rather more. Difficult than normal because Naman was focused so intently on his work. George was met with a dismissive nod from him. He inquired of naming as to whether. He was still interested in the work. While Naman was still concentrated on his own job. He instructed George to just place it. On his desk for him. George cast his gaze over the desk. It was crammed to the brim with books, papers, and all manner of other things. Naman was so engrossed in his work that he was unable to care.
George reluctantly placed his book on the. Desk in front of him despite the fact that he was terrified that his assignment would be misplaced there for all eternity. As the days passed, George continued to wait for a response from Naman. Had he made things worse by messing. Up the difficulties or even worse, had. Naman lost all of his hard work altogether? George was considering whether or not he. Should bring up the work that he turned into his professor a little over.
A month and a half later. It was a Sunday morning. Both George and his wife, who was sound asleep, were up late. A jarring and extremely loud banging sound awoke the couple abruptly. At approximately 08:00, a.m. Someone was standing at the entrance to the building. They exchanged shot glances with one another. After seeing the event, George ambled over to the front door and opened it with great caution as he made his way there. When someone stormed into his home after crashing through the door, he was startled and he almost fell to the ground. George turned around while clenching his fists tightly. It was Naming all along. He was holding a pile of papers.
Tightly to his chest as he stood. In the middle of his home with a wild expression appearing in each of his eyes. George couldn’t believe what he was seeing in his teacher. I’m confused. What exactly does this mean? Was there an event that took place at the University? Naming yelled urgently for someone to read this right away. George was confronted with a clenched fist.
Full of papers from Naming. Naming began to explain things while George. Merely stood there with a puzzled expression. Painted all over his face. I’ve recently finished writing an introduction to. One of your articles. It would be helpful if you could read it so I can have it published as soon as possible. George was completely taken aback. What exactly is this an introduction to? I don’t understand what he’s talking about. When Naman realized that George had no idea what was going on, he eventually regained his composure and explained what was happening.
There was no homework associated with the two problems that George had labored over. In point of fact, there was never any intention for them to be resolved at all. Both of these issues were well known challenges in the field of statistics that had yet to be resolved. The two issues in question were unproven statistical theories for which some of the most brilliant minds in the world had attempted but been unsuccessful in devising proofs. Within a few short days, George had.
Arrived at the solution. Up until that point, George had been under the impression that he had overlooked an essential detail which contributed to the impression that the problem was difficult. Everything was beginning to click into place. At that point, George pelled over as the comprehension slowly crept into his mind. He sagged into a chair. He was just a graduate student, yet he’d solve the intractable problem.
The Simplex algorithm, which was developed by. Him in 1974 and is used to solve linear programming problems, will subsequently earn him a great deal of recognition. His work with the United States Air. Force, during which he became an expert on planning methods that could be solved with desk calculators, was the seed from which it blossomed. One of the earliest uses of the Simplex Algorithm was in calculating the optimal least expensive diet for the armed forces.
This was one of the early applications of the algorithm. The linear programming approaches were extremely important and played a significant role in the evolution of the technology that’s used today. An accomplished mathematician named Laszlo Lavaz, who won an award for his work, once explained the significance of linear programming by stating that if one were to conduct research to determine which mathematical problem consumes the most amount of computer time around the world, the answer would most likely be linear programming.
However, George never changed his humble and unassuming nature during the course of his life. In an article he wrote about Simplex Algorithm, he remarked that the immense strength of the Simplex approach is something that continues to astound me. Even at an early age, George exhibited. A healthy dose of modesty over his accomplishment. One year after he found a solution to the issues, he started to get concerned about a subject for his thesis. He sought the advice of Naman, who merely gave him a shrug and instructed.
George to place the two issues in. A binder, stating that he would accept. This as the thesis. The second of the two issues, on the other hand, was not published until. Far after World War II had ended. George received communication from a man named Abraham Wald, who informed him that the primary result of his paper was the same as the second problem in the homework assignment. George graciously consented to Abraham’s request that the work be published, with both of.
Them listed as co authors. The story eventually became an urban legend in and around University grounds, and it quickly traveled to other regions of the United States. After that, George was praised during a sermon given in a Church in the. Middle of America for having successfully solved. Ten issues that were part of his final exams. The hyperbole was met with George’s characteristic chuckle. The story of George serves as an.
Excellent illustration of how a positive mindset may enable one to accomplish things that seem unattainable. Since he didn’t believe the issues to be insurmountable, he made a concerted effort to get his work done as quickly as possible.