Albert Einstein is widely considered one of the greatest minds of the 20th century, and his scientific contributions and theories are the basis of the modern field of theoretical physics. Many people have asked the question: at what age did Einstein learn mathematics? Though it is difficult to determine his exact age at which he mastered math, it is widely accepted that he had an innate ability for the subject from a young age.
In this article, we will explore the details about Einstein’s math education, how his talents and skills developed as he grew older, and look at what evidence suggests he was able to start understanding and solving mathematical equations from an early age.
Einstein’s Education and Experiences with Math in Early Years
Albert Einstein was born in 1879, in the city of Ulm, in the Kingdom of Württemberg, in modern day Germany. Wallace K.
E. Smith, a mathematician and physicist and friend of Einstein, described his initial perception of the young boy: “When I first met him he had, even at the age of seven or eight, an unusually quick mind and an insatiable curiosity. I asked him what he was reading and it was, I remember, a book on mathematical analysis and integration.
”Einstein’s family had moved to Munich, Germany when he was an infant, and his mother had given him access to her collection of books about mathematics, science, and philosophy, which Einstein read voraciously. She also employed a tutor to teach him mathematics specifically. His father, Hermann Einstein, was an engineer and inventor, and he regularly encouraged the young boy to think critically and logically.
When Einstein was nine, his family moved to Italy, and so he was enrolled in an Italian school. It is here that we see evidence of Einstein’s mathematical talents being officially recognized.
At age 12, he was so advanced in math that his math teacher warned him against continuing his studies as there was nothing else he could teach him.
Einstein’s Mastery of Math As He Grew Older
It is important to remember that before the age of 12, Einstein already had a base knowledge in math and had shown great aptitude for it. By the time Einstein was 13 years old, he was already experiencing successes in mathematical analysis.
In 1895, at the age of 16, Einstein wrote his first scientific paper, which was about the molecular theory of heat. That same year, he began attending ETH Zurich, a polytechnic university located in Zurich, Switzerland. He graduated with a degree in math and physics in 1902 from ETH Zurich.
Einstein then became a Swiss citizen and started attending the University of Zurich, where he obtained a doctoral degree in mathematics and physics in 190 This was the same year that he published the paper that set the stage for the theory of relativity.
It was also the year that he was appointed as a tutor in math and physics at the university. It is therefore clear that at the age of 16, Einstein had demonstrated a mastery of mathematical analysis. This feat is even more impressive when considering that he had only studied mathematics seriously for half a year by that time.
Evidence Suggesting Einstein was an Early Math Learner
Another example of Einstein’s prodigious mathematics skills is his mastery of complex problems at a young age. In 1902, at the age of 23, Einstein was able to solve the Riemann problem just by looking at the equations.
This is a problem that many brilliant minds could not bother to attempt at the time, even for a fee. Einstein’s ability to solve the Riemann problem without needing to do any calculations speaks to his skills in visualizing mathematical relationships and having the ability to quickly interpret the abstract. Furthermore, it is often suggested that he was able to grasp the understanding of complex mathematics in a way that many others could not, which is why he often had plenty of free time as a student, as he was able to understand more quickly than his peers.
Finally, another indication of Einstein’s mathematical prowess at a young age is his letter exchange with French mathematician Jules Henri Poincaré in 190 Poincaré was a brilliant mathematician who was known for his work in differential equations and the calculus of variations.
What is impressive about this exchange is that Poincaré was 13 years older than Einstein and yet Einstein was able to keep up with his analysis and make well-thought-out remarks.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is clear that Albert Einstein was an early learner when it came to math, as evidenced by his impressive abilities when he was aged only 1 Albert Einstein had an innate understanding of mathematics and was exposed to books in the subject since a young age.
He was also encouraged by his family to think critically and analytically, which likely helped him to become a master in mathematics. His ability to understand and solve complex problems quickly and without assistance show that he was able to comprehend mathematics concepts in a way that surpassed the understanding of the average person. All of this indicates that Albert Einstein was an early learner in mathematics, and that he had an innate knack for the subject from a young age.