2歳で九九暗記 数学検定準1級の小学3年生 大学生レベルの難問もスラスラと… 将来の夢は「フィールズ賞」

Toyokawa Airu, a third-grader living in Gifu Prefecture, plays soccer with his younger brother and sister in the backyard of their home... (Toyokawa) "Soccer is fun." Q: Which do you prefer, soccer or studying? "Well, I guess studying." His bookshelf is lined with difficult-looking math books and science magazines. He picks one up. (Toyokawa) "This is an ordinary differential equation, the most commonly used equation in physics and everyday life." The subtitles on the cover read, "Understand college math like this!" and "Get credits with ease!" It's actually a university-level textbook. He creates his own problems during a break after studying. There are also complex mathematical formulas on the whiteboard on the wall. (Toyokawa) "I rearranged existing problems to create my own problems. I solve them during short breaks after studying." In fact, Toyokawa, just a third-grader, has already passed the pre-1st grade Mathematics Proficiency Test, which is equivalent to a third-grader's high school degree. He has also passed the Physics Proficiency Test Level 2 and the Eiken Test Level 2. "Hmm, no, my parents have never told me to study." (Toyokawa) "When I solve a difficult problem, I feel a sense of satisfaction, like I enjoy the relief." He studies 3-4 hours a day on weekdays and about 7-8 hours on weekends. (Toyokawa) Q. Have your parents ever told you to study? "Hmm, no, I haven't." He's currently aiming to pass the Mathematics Proficiency Test Level 1, which is required for science graduates. (Toyokawa) "This is right at the beginning of the differential calculus chapter. The part where we use the 'squeezing principle' to find the differential coefficient." It seems pretty difficult... We asked him to try solving a Mathematics Proficiency Test Level 1 problem... and he solved it in just 8 minutes. We immediately checked his answer. (Toyokawa) "They're exactly the same." And guess what?! It's correct! So how exactly did this remarkable talent blossom? We asked his mother! He didn't know the word "apple" in the word problem, so he went to the grocery store. (Toyokawa's mother) "He knew the numbers 1 through 10 at 10 months old. I often took him to the children's center when he was little, so he naturally learned them from books and blocks with numbers written on them." He didn't receive any special education. Toyokawa memorized his multiplication tables at age 2. Then, by age 3... (Toyokawa's mother) "He was already learning fractions and decimals, and negative numbers." Apparently, he was already studying the math that a third-grader would learn at age 3. His parents' guidance also helped his innate talent blossom. (Toyokawa's mother) "He didn't understand words to begin with, so if the word 'apple' came up in a word problem, I'd go and show him some apples in the grocery store. For distance, speed, and time, I'd take a stopwatch and tape measure and actually measure the distance in meters and the seconds." His parents didn't study mathematics professionally, but they tried to help him deepen his understanding through hands-on experience in a fun way. His dream for the future is to "win the Fields Medal." Aside from studying, Toyokawa started playing the piano at age 6 and played Burgmüller's etudes. (Toyokawa) Q: Do you ever laze around at home? "Not really. I don't watch YouTube. I haven't been watching TV lately either." So what are Toyokawa's dreams for the future? (Toyokawa) "I want to win the Fields Medal. It's like the mathematics version of the Nobel Prize, and I want to discover a new formula." Find out more in NEWS DIG! ↓ https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/cb...