Mathematics in the modern sense, as a subject requiring the elaboration and proofs of theorems, evolved from the quest for “truth” by the philosophers of ancient Greece. Around 600 BC, Thales of Miletus is said to have proved that an angle inscribed in a semi-circle is a right angle. For enunciating a general relationship that …
As early as 700 BCE, the Greek poet Homer stated, “So it is that the gods do not give all men gifts of grace–neither good looks nor intelligence nor eloquence.” Every elementary school teacher can tell you that the children who enter their classroom at the beginning of each year soon display different personalities, learning …
Is High intelligence a Blessing we don’t all share? Read More »
In almost all the sciences, and especially physics, mathematics is the language in which ideas are expressed. In some cases, the ideas are so abstract that they cannot be expressed with any precision in a natural language. For example, look at the Einstein Field equation(s) below: The first term on the left side of this …
Why is mathematics necessary for the study of science? Read More »
The relative importance of IQ and EQ in determining your level of success in life depends upon your defintion of success and the career path you choose. EQ (emotional intelligence) typically means “people skills.” If you have a low EQ, then you are below average in your ability to empathize and connect with others (interpersonal …
Can a person with high IQ but low EQ be successful in life? Read More »
In our post titled, What do the Trustees of the Gates Foundation Understand that Most People Don’t? https://www.intelligence-and-iq.com/the-gates-foundation/ we provided data showing how the mathematical literacy of the young generation in America has fallen significantly below the average of most industrial nations. We further explained the significance of this deficiency in its implications for America’s …
Are Teachers Important? What the Gates Foundation Understands that Most People Don’t Read More »
This post is a response to a question that appears often in my in-box. The concept of emotional intelligence had its roots in the work of Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner, who objected to the use of IQ as a single measure of intelligence, arguing that it excludes other cognitive abilities such as innate social skills, …
Is Emotional Intelligence more important than IQ? Read More »
In a nutshell, your IQ is a measure of your performance on a series of “intelligence” tests relative to other people your age. I’ll take you briefly through the development of these tests and their interpretation. For a deeper history of the evolution of IQ, visit: https://www.intelligence-and-iq.com/how-did-iq-measurements-evolve-over-time/ In 1955, American psychologist David Wechsler published an …
What is the Definition of IQ? Is there an IQ Limit that Cannot be Surpassed? Read More »
Since antiquity, it has been recognized that people tend to decline physically and mentally as they approach middle age. While these changes vary significantly from individual to individual, most of us increase our intellectual productivity throughout early adulthood, reach a peak in middle age, and decline in mental acuity as we move into old age. …
At What age Does one pass his/her intellectual peak? Read More »
On October 19, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced that they would be providing an endowment of $1.1 billion over the next 4 years for rebuilding mathematics education in America. The goals of the endowment are: • to obtain more and better-trained mathematics teachers, • to create a new offering of motivational and inspiring …
What do the Trustees of the Gates foundation understand that most people Don’t? Read More »
It is possible that a highly intelligent person will be slow to acquire speech. Albert Einstein was so slow in learning to talk that his parents consulted a doctor. His sister Maja reported, “He had such difficulty with language that those around him feared he would never learn [to speak].” In fact, one of his …
