Math vs. English

Terrence Tao, who is apparently a genius when it comes to prime numbers, has some interesting comments about his grade-school education, particularly when it came to the differences between English and math.

A New York Times article details his learning:

He proceeded through each subject at his own pace, quickly accelerating through several grades in math and science while remaining closer to his age group in other subjects. In English classes, for instance, he became flustered when he had to write essays.

“I never really got the hang of that,” he said. “These very vague, undefined questions. I always liked situations where there were very clear rules of what to do.”

Assigned to write a story about what was going on at home, Terry went from room to room and made detailed lists of the contents.

Ha!

From this Times article. The link will stop working in seven days.