Teenager Solves 300-Year Old Mathematical Mystery

Shouryya Ray, a 16-year old from Germany, began learning calculus when he was 6 years old. Now he's solved a ballistic mystery which has puzzled mathematicians since Sir Isaac Newton first posed it:

Shouryya Ray worked out how to calculate exactly the path of a projectile under gravity and subject to air resistance, The (London) Sunday Times reported. [...]

Newton posed the problem, relating to the movement of projectiles through the air, in the 17th century. Mathematicians had only been able to offer partial solutions until now.

If that wasn't enough of an achievement, Ray has also solved a second problem, dealing with the collision of a body with a wall, that was posed in the 19th century.

Both problems Ray resolved are from the field of dynamics and his solutions are expected to contribute to greater precision in areas such as ballistics.

Link -via Alphecca | Photo: Calcutta Telegraph