IAMA Russian mathematician Nikolay Nikolaevich , Leader of the group that Created the Worlds first Digital Simulation of an animals movement.

Hello, Nikolay Nikolaevich!

I am graduated from your "M" class (school 179) in 2005 and now i am a graduate student in University of Miami. First i wanted to say thank you for your work, without you i wouldn't be here. And i have one question.

Here in US physics in schools is not mandatory and i think this is a big mistake, because it is so important in many sciences. I see how students struggle with it in undergraduate but they have to take it. Therefore, many of them hate it. Do you think that physics should be mandatory in schools? or us system is better?

Nothing Should be mandatory- just highly recommended

What is you full name? I might remember you!

[deleted]

Ah yes! I remember both of you! Both of you were very bright!

Nothing Should be mandatory- just highly recommended

Could you elaborate a bit more on this, please? Do you believe that even such important subjects as Math and your primary language (in your case Russian) should be optional? Does it work this way in the schools you founded?

There should be different schools dedicated to different interests.

You should know the basics of everything, but to go further is your choice

When you get stuck during a math problem, what are some of your tips for getting un-stuck? Also, how do you get yourself excited to do math? Sometimes, it's hard to start, but once you get going with a problem, it can be fun! Have you ever felt that you weren't as good as some of your math heros?

Forget everything you tried and start over.

Untangling a knot is more difficult than tying a new one.

There is a simple internet game named "QWOP" where the player must make an athlete run by individually "flexing" the thigh and calf muscles using the Q-W-O-P keyboard keys. It has become a bit of a running joke due to how incredibly awkward it is.

Would you care to comment on the game designer's approach to human leg movement?

Example video here:
www.imgur.com/gallery/hguusxw

They clearly haven't ever seen a human being.

Student here!

Maths is my favourite subject at school. But, what are your personal views on the Mathematics Curriculum in Schools? Do you believe it is adequate, or do you believe they restrict the truly wonderful ideas and concepts of Maths?

I strongly dislike regular curriculum mathematics!

For this reason I helped found The 3 Special mathematics schools located in Moscow: School 179, Л2Ш, School 57.

What exactly do you dislike about it?

They just get the students to memorize formulas

We get them to understand them

Could you maybe send over a translated syllabus or suggestions on how we can take our mathematics education into our own hands?

Thanks for The idea!

yeah i would love to see the materials that your schools use. In English if possible :) .

I'll translate some of the current material and post it in this thread

-Student

This is really cool!

Please give Nikolay my sincere thanks for the work he has done throughout his career.

My question: Has your study of mathematics shaped your perception of life and the universe at all? How so? Do you ever think of its implications on a philosophical level?

Yes, It's pretty difficult to stare at a piece of paper 8 hours a day and to not start wondering about the meaning of life.

On a serious note, I strongly appreciate your interest to my work and I wish you to surpass it!

Best studying advice?

Study.

Well that's certainly a new approach. As a student I'll try to take your advice and try to 'study'.

You're welcome and good luck!

What do you suggest for someone who wants to learn mathematics but thinks they cannot?

You can! A lot of teaches call children stupid and tell them they have no potential- they become unmotivated and start fearing mathematics. In my school the children have respect for the teachers and the teacher never raises his voice- an environment where studying can exist.

Start by forgetting the " I can't do it " part!

Good luck!

Do you have something in maths that you're working on or something you hope to achieve in the near future?

I'm 85 years old! I want to help advance and motivate the younger generations to study mathematics- that is my main current goal.

I do have some projects but explaining would take at least half an hour!

Hi! Thank you for this AMA--my father was a student at school 57 until 1991, when he came to the United States. I heard from him that you helped Jewish students who were unjustly rejected from Moscow University. Do you think there was a lot of anti-Semitism in the Russian education system, and is there still anti-Semitism today?

There certainly was- And I did everything I could to stop it

Thankfully, It is nonexistent today.

How have advances in computing changed the way you'd approach a problem like this one? Or haven't they?

The basics stayed the same, but you don't need 2kg of paper to write a simple program nowadays.

Basic question, but what first interested you in math as a child? And did you know it would lead you to such great things?

Thanks to my friend, when I was in the 8th grade I went To a Lecture that Isak Eglom was Hosting. I was Utterly amazed that "true" mathematics was completely different it was from the school curriculum. I was hooked immediately.

Can you give any recommendations of books to read which would make it interesting ?

Of course! But they are all in Russian without translation to English so I would recommend trying to understand contest mathematics. The Pascal triangle is a good start- think of some formulas that can explain how each row increases in proportion to the last.

A philosophical question.. are we living inside a simulation?

I don't know, ask the guy who maintains the servers

What interests you besides math?

Biology and astronomy are my interests.

Whats it like to be smart?

I don't know, ask yourself.

How would you suggest someone learn all of the fields of mathematics? How can someone be like Poncair and master all of the current mathematics?

I am a student who is immensely passionate about learning mathematics. I want to learn everything from combinatorics to sets to higher level differentials to advanced algebra to even physics applications such as quantum physics.

So far I have taken calculus 1 and calculus 2. Next year I will take linear algebra with differential equations. After that I will take multivariable calculus.

How should I proceed to real analysis and higher level math classes?

You most likely heard most of the information you need to succeed. I don't know you in person but I can tell you something that is universal- NEVER and I mean NEVER be afraid to ask your teacher questions- That is the only way to grow.

If you say something mean about your translator, will he translate it?

He is a very smart guy -Totally my teacher

What's your favorite beer?

I don't drink.

Try water- I heard it's healthy

What do you think of Greg Perelman?

I think that him saying no to the 1000000$- that's very noble, I would do the same ( If I got the chance )

My third grade elementary teacher taught me my multiplication tables through songs, numbers 2-9. To this day, I STILL use these songs as my go to and ever since I've learned from said teacher, my math prowess has only grown exponentially since then. Has there been any research don't to the correlation between song and mathematics or numbers and rhythm for that matter?

Rhythm is a may to logically connect things that can't otherwise ( at least in a simple way ) be put together in one piece

Hello!

How do you feel about Goat Simulator?

Is that what you people do for fun today? What's so interesting in pretending to be a goat? Please explain...

Hello Nikolay, I would like to know why your username is TwentySevenSquared?

Is there any significance to this number (729)?

This is my translators account

How far has the science/art come since then? How close are we to not realizing it's not an actual animal's movement?

It was a computer program that we (my team) stored on 200 paper disks that could hold 200 bits of information. It was far from perfect but it was the first program that could see legs as separate from each other and make them follow the body. It was revolutionary at the time, but the technology has advance very far since then.

Do you feel hopeful on the worlds progress towards teaching mathematics and what areas within mathematics do you feel should be taught to all people?

Yes! In the 179th school we think that anyone can understand mathematics is they try hard enough (I'll pitch in to say that my teacher is the Bob Ross of math)

Do you feel that growing up under the USSR limited you academically?

No, not at all. The USSR May have limited me in some places, but it only motivated me in mathematics.

Have you seen the movie Good Will Hunting? If you have; what is your review on the movie, and was there any moments you found ridiculous?

I didn't watch it but I think I will today!

Wait for a reply!

Do people ever call you "Niko Niko"?

Yes! But it's actually Nik Nik

What is the hardest problem you have faced in Math? Do you struggle with any type of Math?

Thank you very much for taking the time to do an AMA, I really appreciate it and your answers.

The ones I couldn't solve

What's with the project? Is this for a game (like sims) or for research purposes? And whats math to do with this? Thanks!

Neither-I'm too old for computers

Could you share an article with formuilas used in this simulation? I think it could be fun to do it again :) I am russian speaker

http://www.etudes.ru/ru/etudes/cat/

Thank you, kind stranger

Anytime!

Wow, I didn't know they were online! I lost the originals a couple years ago!

Which is your favourite Russian Mathematician and why?

My professor Prof.Kronrod, not because he was my teacher, but because we were interested in the same fields of mathematics

In your opinion, why does Russia have such strong computer programmers and mathematicians? What is different in Russia when it comes to teaching mathematics than in the West?

I'll reply with an half-true anecdote: An American institute is where Chinese students are taught by Russian Professors.

Are there any books on mathematics that you could recommend for someone who is interested but has never been really good at it? I would like to broaden my understanding of math but I have no idea where to start.

I replied to a question like this

You can do anything you want, as long as you give it your all

Use the regular books- you know them

Good luck!

Здравствуйте! Im an american student, and as someone who had a very hard struggle in choosing their field, it makes me wonder- hoe did you decide on becoming a mathematician? It seems like an interesting, yet odd, field of work.

It all depends on what you want- Don't try to solve your dilemma by passing it on to someone else!

Good luck and Work hard!

How did you feel after the simulation you created was completed?

Relieved

As a student, is there a question even my teachers can't answer?

Oh they can answer anything

But weather it would be correct is a different topic

Здравствуйте, Николай Николаевич! Я инностранный​ студентка в России. Я учусь физика)

Sorry for the bad Russian.

Your intro says you don't speak English, but does that mean you don't know any English? Have you ever found problems with interacting with the rest of the scientific community outside of the Russian speaking countries?

Translators exist for a reason

And my main language is mathematics

If I may ask another question: what computer language do you use for making your simulations?

Student here, he hasn't done anything connected to programming for the last 30 years.

Did you basically model shadows that would have occurred if the cat were moving in 3d? Since then, have you ventured into simulating movement in 3d? Do you like modern software that makes this kind of thing much easier, and not require the kind of expertise you may bring?

Yes to the first question and no to the second.

What are your thoughts on the millennium prize problems? Which one do you think will be most likely to be solved first?

I'm not sure

Ask Pillerman- He might be on it

What areas of mathematics would you consider to be the best for finding out about just as a hobby?

Anything you personally find interesting

Hi!

I'm a fourth year undergraduate math major. I dunno if this has been asked yet because my phone aint too great so here it goes. What is your favorite set of numbers to work with and why?

On a more serious note, is there a topic you would recommend I (or other aspiring math majors) study on my own time as a math major? Something you wish you knew about when learning math? (Other than "get a more realistic career / better paying career" as some of my professors tell me).

There is no specific set of numbers you should like

There is no "most important theorem" you should know

Everything is person to person

I'm a math grad. Would like to ask your favorite topics in math? Do you a favorite mathematician? Someone you look upto?

Don't make idols and try to imitate them- Be yourself and do what you feel necessary!

can you talk about how math is relevant to this animal movement simulation?

are modern methods different? how have things improved?

is there any utility in animal movement modeling?

My teacher isn't sure so I'll answer for him

The main change is that the body can be " tied" to the appendages

What is your favorite unsolved problem in mathematics?

Braures theorem.

Hello! This AMA is very interesting! I appreciate your time!

I was just curious do you feel attached or enjoy any equations, formulas or types of math the most? I'm weirdly fond of Algebra​. as a visual learner, I find it fun and puzzle like to play with the numbers.

Also any advice for discouraged students of math who haven't practiced in years and never continued to within school due to frustration and poor teachers? I was always decent at math but came to dislike it overtime. I was often baffled by the notion of "only one right answer". I'd like to change how I interact and view Mathematics as a whole. Any tips?

Thanks!

They shouldn't listen to anyone that say them can't achieve something

Continue your passion to mathematics by finding topics that interest you- Everything is person to person

How do you feel about current US-Russia relations?

I might be the vice principal of a school that is 25 meters away from the parliament but I stay as far away as possible from politics.

Are you descended from Russia Imperial royalty?

No, but my grandfather mast the leading engineer of the largest ever oil company before the USSR.

If you could change any fundamental principle of math, what would it be and why? :)

You can't change something that can only exist in one form

What is 37+32?

Too difficult for me.