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China to Turn into World Math Power
The International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) 2002 is going to be held in China next August. With a history of more than 100 years since its inauguration it will be a gala of math science to be held at the world's highest level.
Mathematicians' invitation reports are generally regarded as representatives of great achievements and progress made in the field of worldwide math science. The ICM 2002 which is going to be held in Beijing next August will invite 11 Chinese mainland mathematicians to give reports, moreover, another 14 overseas Chinese mathematicians and those from Hong Kong, Macao will also be invited to give reports. It is unprecedented for China to invite so many famous mathematicians. Some predict that China will become a math power in the coming five years.
Math Drives China to DevelopMath is the basis of all subjects. There will be no natural science or social science to speak of when they can do without math's application. Chinese famous mathematician Hua Luogeng ever gave a description of math's application: the vast universe, tiny particle, fast rocket, changes of the earth, the mystery of biology and many other things, math's roles are omnipresent.
Math is pushing China to make steady progress, acquiring greater and more application fields with computer technology as in the field of economy, social development, resources allocation and planning, structure adjustment, engineering design and construction, products development and manufacturing, quality control, information processing, environmental protection, geometry design and national defense. It will help China on the way to move into a high-tech period characteristic of high quality, high efficiency, high precision, high speed.
Math also plays a very important role in improving a nation's scientific knowledge. Its exact deduction and precious calculation are conducive to enhancing the overall culture quality and thinking quality of a nation.
China's Math Progressing with TideSince New China was founded, it has made great progress in math. Chinese mathematicians have made remarkable contributions in complex function, finite element calculation and other fields.
It took China only 20 years to catch up with the world. Although China still has a large gap with America, France, Germany in math, its strength is powerful. In recent years, Chinese young contestants have successively won Olympics math gold medals. In the new century, China's math is sure to get faster development. Both domestic and foreign scientists hold that China will become a math power within another five years.
China to Be a Math PowerMath is a subject that Chinese people are good at. The Chinese nation has made remarkable achievements in math since ancient times. From the 2nd century B.C. to the 13th century, during a span of 1000 years or so, China's science and technology were more advanced than its Western counterparts. China's math was far ahead of theirs. Discoveries of Pythagorean theorem, ratio of the circumference of a circle to diameter were hundred of years earlier than that in Western countries. The math thoughts of ancient Chinese mathematicians like Liu Hui, Zu Chongzhi, Qin Jiushao, Zhu Shijie, Shenkuo, Xu Guangqi have benefited generations of the Chinese people, their math thinking had been spread to the middle Asia and even to the Europe at that time.
Contemporary Chinese mathematician Wu Wenjun said that ancient Chinese math particularly emphasized algorithm, and especially paid more attention to settlement of practical problems. In the information era, using computer to conduct all kinds of complicated work instead of human brain is to input algorithm into computer and then computer can automatically calculate according to algorithm.
To keep pace with the tide and realize transition from an ancient math powerhouse to a modern math power, China is increasing its input into math in recent years. Chinese mathematicians are choosing subject directions and selecting excellent talents to tackle over 100 subjects.
By PD Online staff member Li Yan
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