Ramanujan Quiz: Can You Solve Number Theory Genius?

Ramanujan was born in 1887 in a small town in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. He grew up in modest surroundings and showed an unusual talent for numbers from a very young age. Despite limited access to formal mathematical training, he independently developed thousands of results that puzzled and impressed professional mathematicians worldwide.

This Cambridge professor recognized Ramanujan extraordinary talent after receiving a letter containing dozens of original theorems in 1913. He arranged for Ramanujan to come to England and the two worked closely for several years. Their partnership produced important work in number theory and is considered one of the most remarkable in mathematical history.

Ramanujan became one of the youngest people and the first South Asian to be elected Fellow of this distinguished British scientific body. Founded in the 17th century, the society counts some of history's greatest scientists among its members. His election was a formal recognition of his contributions to mathematical analysis and number theory.

Ramanujan arrived at this centuries-old English university in 1914 after corresponding with Hardy from India. Despite struggling with the climate and cultural differences, he produced significant mathematical work during his time there. He was later made a Fellow of one of its colleges, an honor rarely extended to someone without a conventional degree.

Decades after Ramanujan death, a collection of his unpublished mathematical work was found in a library archive. The pages contained hundreds of formulas and results mathematicians had never seen. Researchers spent years verifying the findings, confirming that his mathematical instincts remained years ahead of his contemporaries.