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高中没毕业直接读博,17岁少女推翻40年数学猜想后的下一步
量子位·2025-08-08 07:23

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the extraordinary achievements of Hannah Cairo, a 17-year-old who solved the Mizohata-Takeuchi conjecture, a significant mathematical problem that had remained unsolved for 40 years, showcasing her exceptional talent and potential in mathematics [4][6][69]. Group 1: Background and Early Life - Hannah Cairo learned calculus at the age of 11 and had university-level math skills by 14 [1][2]. - She grew up in Nassau, Bahamas, and was homeschooled alongside her siblings [9]. - Initially, she engaged with math through Khan Academy's online courses, completing all available content quickly [11][12]. Group 2: Academic Journey - Due to her advanced learning needs, her parents arranged for remote tutoring with two math professors [13][14]. - Despite having guidance, most of her learning was self-directed, leading her to read graduate-level textbooks [14][15]. - The COVID-19 pandemic allowed her to connect with the Chicago math community, further igniting her passion for mathematics [23][25]. Group 3: Breakthrough in Mathematics - In 2023, after spending a summer at the Berkeley Math Circle, she began contemplating her next steps and applied to several universities [33][34]. - She was encouraged to participate in a concurrent enrollment program at Berkeley, allowing her to take graduate-level courses [35][37]. - During her studies, she encountered the simplified version of the Mizohata-Takeuchi conjecture as part of her homework, which led her to explore the problem deeply [48][49]. Group 4: Solving the Conjecture - The Mizohata-Takeuchi conjecture connects harmonic analysis, partial differential equations, and geometric analysis, and its resolution required innovative thinking [6][52]. - Hannah constructed a complex function that demonstrated the conjecture's conditions, ultimately leading to her proof [63][65]. - After confirming her findings with her professor, she decided to apply directly for a PhD program, bypassing undergraduate studies [69][72]. Group 5: Future Prospects - Hannah was accepted into the PhD programs at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University, marking a significant milestone in her academic career [72][73]. - She is set to begin her doctoral studies this fall, which will be her first formal degree [74].