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A MATHEMATICAL PRODIGY

In an old. magazine a "Morning Post" writer found an account of an eight-year-old boy prodigy, called Zcrah Colburn, who, in London 120 yeare ago, astonished scientists by his inexplicable gift for performing mental arithmetic. When aeked what number multiplied by itself gave 106,929, he answered. 327 before his interrogator had time to the original number; and, when asked the cubic root of 268,336,125, he gave the answer with equal promptness. Even more remarkable was his answer to a request to mention any number which would divide 36,083. Without the leaet hesitation he replied that there was none. The boy was submitted to the most rigorous examination, and he satisfied his examiners that there was no possibility of fraud. He was unable to account for hie remarkable gifts. As he grew and his general knowledge increased, his special powers of mathematical calculation faded, until tliej completely deserted him. t

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19330218.2.115

Bibliographic details

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 41, 18 February 1933, Page 11

Word Count
152

A MATHEMATICAL PRODIGY Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 41, 18 February 1933, Page 11

A MATHEMATICAL PRODIGY Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 41, 18 February 1933, Page 11