Dao Triet Hien (1975) is a famous Chinese mathematician. Born into an intellectual family, his father is a pediatrician, his mother has a double degree in Mathematics and Physics, so he inherited a good education. Triet Hien's success is inseparable from his family's education.

From a young age, he showed a clear talent for Mathematics, at the age of 2 he could teach a 5 year old child addition and subtraction. When he was old enough to go to school, his parents sent Triet Hien to a private school, but because of his outstanding intelligence, he could not integrate with his friends. After that, the family decided to let Triet Hien study at home.

8 years old, scored 760/800 on SAT

Under his mother's guidance, Triet Hien's talent for mathematics became increasingly evident. Instead of educating Triet Hien in the usual way, the family decided to apply the method for geniuses. At this time, Triet Hien's parents sent him back to public school again. Here, his ability to self-study was fully utilized.

However, after a while, he felt bored and often went to the big class to study. Knowing Triet Hien's talent, the school created conditions for him to freely go to classes to listen to lectures. During the learning process, he listened attentively and grasped the knowledge immediately.

18d042c86d87102633ca0550c36dfb44.jpeg
Professor of Mathematics Dao Triet Hien. Photo: Baidu

At the age of 8, Triet Hien participated in the SAT exam and scored 760/800. With this score, the male student attracted the attention of the American mathematics community. The journey of the young mathematician's legend began from here. Participating in the International Mathematics Competition (IMO) at the age of 13, the male student won a Gold medal. Triet Hien's name once again received the attention of the academic community.

To prove his ability, Triet Hien continued to participate in the IQ test organized by the University of Wales (USA). The male student's IQ test result was 230, surpassing the scientists Einstein, Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking.

24 years old is a professor, 31 years old received Fields Medal

At the age of 14, Triet Hien was accepted by many schools in the US, but because he was still young, his parents decided to let him study at Flinders University (Australia). Graduating from university at the age of 16, the math prodigy continued to study for a master's degree and received his degree 1 year later. After that, he studied for a doctorate at Princeton University (USA) and graduated at the age of 21. With a series of impressive achievements, at the age of 24, Triet Hien became the youngest professor at the University of California (USA).

Triet Hien mainly researches problems such as integration, differential equations, combinatorics and number theory... At the age of 31, he received the Fields Medal. This is the most prestigious award in the field of Mathematics given to people under 40 years old.

b33dfc78ddb395fd21fd68120a146d36.jpg
Professor Triet Hien is one of two Chinese mathematicians to receive the Fields Medal. Photo: Baidu

Not only is he well-versed in Mathematics, in 2005, he also received the Robert Sorgenfrey Award for teaching at the University of California (USA). In 2007, the young professor successfully researched the theory of digital image compression techniques and was voted as the breakthrough technology of the year by the US Technology Review magazine.

In 2015, he successfully proved the Erdős difference, a problem proposed by mathematician Paul Erdős in 1932 and which has been controversial in academia for 83 years. In the same year, he received the Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics and became a member of the World Academy of Sciences.

Since 2015, he has not had many achievements that have shocked the world. Sharing the reason, Triet Hien said that he wants to have a simple life with his wife and children like normal people, but still focuses on researching some issues in Mathematics education. Because he wants the next generation to understand and learn Mathematics better.

Currently, at the age of 49, he still contributes to the world of Mathematics every day in parallel with his teaching career at the University of California (USA). In addition, he also participates in the research group on artificial intelligence (AI) of the US Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

Mathematics professor who refused to return to his homeland and worked as a waiter in the US for 7 years, how is he now? CHINA - Having caused controversy for refusing an invitation to return to his homeland and deciding to stay in the US as a waiter for 7 years to sustain his life, at the age of 69, Mr. Truong Ich Duong is now the Director of the Phan Thua Dong Institute of Mathematics at Shandong University.