A 12-year-old child prodigy has astounded university professors after grappling with some of the most advanced concepts in mathematics.

Jacob Barnett has an IQ of 170 – higher than Albert Einstein – and is now so far advanced in his Indiana university studies that professors are lining him up for a PHD research role.

The boy wonder, who taught himself calculus, algebra, geometry and trigonometry in a week, is now tutoring fellow college classmates after hours.




  1. JimD says:

    “taught himself calculus, algebra, geometry and trigonometry in a week” – He took Mark Twain’s advice to heart: “Never let your schooling interfere with your education !!!”

  2. Gary, the dangerous infidel says:

    I really tried to follow his explanations, but I was distracted by all the shiny white snow and the nice doggie.

  3. bobbo, the evangelical anti-theist says:

    “But far from complaining, Jake has turned the sleepless nights to his advantage – debunking the big bang theory.” /// Good. I’ve been waiting for that to happen.

  4. Buzz Mega says:

    Easy as ∏.

  5. pwuk says:

    “debunking the big bang theory”
    That’s already been done. Inflation don’t’cha know

  6. 1873 Colt says:

    Good for him. I hope he will live a long, untroubled, normal life.
    But then……..

  7. bobbo, not a science guy, but I read a lot says:

    #5–pwuk==I thought inflation was part of general relativity? A “refinement” of the Big Bang and not “an alternative theory?” I guess its all definitional.

  8. Brian says:

    the camera work and media did not make it conducive to reviewing his work. he made several errors (which he corrected afterward), but he was dealing with a very specific kind of technique and didn’t explain how/why those substitutions could be made. still, for a 12-year old, that’s pretty amazing. I wonder if, under different circumstance, I would have been able to grasp even the fundamentals of calculus at his age, much less DiffEq. My DiffEq professor was an ass that seemed to delight in obfuscating an area of mathematics that has layers and layers of subtle elegance. And I’d very much like to see that whiteboard full of theories.

  9. chiarde says:

    Oh look, Igor just took a dump on your integral. What were you saying, kid?

  10. dcphill says:

    Man,I coulda used a brain like that 65 years ago. So now I’m one of the worlds lousiest mathematitions. Not obviously.

  11. Joe says:

    Looks like another balloon boy to me. I call bullshit.

  12. Angel H. Wong says:

    Wait until his balls start to work and see his IQ plummet by 100 points the moment he sees tits.

  13. ubiquitous talking head says:

    This kid’s in for a rude awakening when he discovers that he’s not NEARLY as smart as his parents have convinced him that he is.

    “Learned” all the elementary maths in a year? Heh. Yeah. You notice none of the “experts” said anything about him being a genius? Most of their comments could be translated into “well, isn’t that cute!”

    I was a pretty smart kid myself. Turns out that just being smart isn’t all that special.

  14. bobbo, are we Men of Science, or Devo? says:

    All this Hubris. My dad named me Sue originally and never missed a chance to tell me I was and always would be a failure.

    Because:

    I never lived thru the Great Depression.

    Ha. ha.

    Bastard was right===until how many years from now? History not repeating just bouncing?

  15. Animby says:

    1) It’s from The Mail.
    2) Einstein never had his IQ measured. It’s been reported to be 160 but that figure was derived from some strange calculations.
    3) “taught himself calculus, algebra, geometry and trigonometry in a week” Gimme a break! He might have taught himself to spell the words in a week. Even a prodigy wunderkind needs to actually peruse the material and, assuming he never even had to pee, a week isn’t enough time.
    4) It’s from The Mail.

  16. LotsaLuck says:

    I’m an excellent driver. My dad let me drive the Buick in the driveway…

  17. Gus says:

    This kid’s never gonna get laid.

  18. What? says:

    Come on, sounds like there is a lot of jealousy here.

    The report may overstate the kid’s accomplishments, but he is taking University level classes.

    Angel is right though, his transition to being adult may spoil him. Hopefully he wins some medals first.

    What would really such would be to be very smart before 20, and average after 20. The world doesn’t support that kind of mind.

  19. Animal Mother says:

    Since when is integration not taught until Calc 2?

    The dumbing down of America proceeds apace.

  20. Angel H. Wong says:

    @Gus #17

    The difference between a gay nerd and a straight nerd is that the gay nerd is virgin by choice.

  21. Wizard of Idiot says:

    I suspect that his white board is sitting right outside that window, out of the camera’s view…

  22. Math Wiz says:

    Just GOOGLE it!

    Who needs smart 12 year olds anyway?

    “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integration_by_parts”

  23. Math Wiz says:

    Oh, make that GOOGLE then Wiki it…
    It’s a 2 step process.

  24. Animal Mother says:

    The hell with Google and Wikipedia.

    http://www.wolframalpha.com/

  25. dadeo says:

    Two words: Space Alien


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