The homework that wasn't: A true story of solving the impossible
It was a typical day at the University of California, Berkeley. The lecture hall buzzed quietly as students settled in for Professor Jerzy Neyman's statistics class. On the blackboard, Neyman had written down two notoriously difficult mathematical problems — not as an assignment, but as examples of challenges that had yet to be solved by even the brightest minds in the field.
George Dantzig walked in late.
He glanced at the board, saw the two problems, and, assuming they were homework, copied them into his notebook. There was nothing extraordinary about that moment — just a student catching up, trying not to fall behind.
Over the next few days, Dantzig worked hard on what he believed was a routine assignment. It took longer than usual, and the problems were certainly more challenging than others he’d encountered — but eventually, he found solutions and handed them in.
Weeks passed. Then, unexpectedly, Professor Neyman knocked on his door. To Dantzig’s surprise, Neyman wasn’t just there to return homework — he was there because the problems Dantzig had solved weren’t homework at all. They were real, unsolved statistical problems that had stumped experts for years.
Dantzig had solved them.
One involved proving the existence of a maximum likelihood estimate for a bimodal distribution. The other offered a non-standard proof for a complex theorem. Both solutions were not only correct, but groundbreaking.
The most remarkable part of this story isn’t just that Dantzig solved the problems — it's how he did it. He had no idea they were considered “unsolvable.” He approached them like any other assignment, free of fear, doubt, or the mental weight of impossibility.
That mistake — that small, unknowing assumption — changed everything.
George Dantzig’s story is more than just a tale of academic success. It’s a lesson in the power of mindset. When we stop telling ourselves that something is too hard, or that we’re not clever enough, or that the problem is too big — we create space for possibility.
Sometimes, the only thing standing between us and a breakthrough is the belief that something can’t be done.
Dantzig didn’t know he was facing the impossible. And because of that, he made the impossible possible.
📍 The George Dantzig Incident: Lessons from the Story
The Situation: In a statistics lecture at the University of California, Berkeley, Professor Jerzy Neyman presented two problems on the blackboard. These were not ordinary exercises — they were examples of notoriously difficult, unsolved challenges in the field of statistics.
Dantzig’s Misunderstanding: George Dantzig, a student in the class, arrived late and saw the problems written on the board. Believing they were part of a homework assignment, he copied them down without realising their significance. Unaware of their reputation, he earnestly began working on them.
The Motivation: Dantzig’s only motivation was to complete what he thought was a regular homework task. Because he didn’t know the problems were thought to be unsolvable, he wasn’t intimidated by them. His lack of hesitation — his naïveté — turned out to be his greatest strength.
The Breakthrough: A few days later, Dantzig submitted his solutions. To Professor Neyman’s astonishment, not only were the problems solved — they were solved correctly and innovatively. Dantzig had provided a valid maximum likelihood estimate for a bimodal distribution and a non-standard proof for a complex theorem.
The Insight Revealed: This incident revealed that even problems deemed insurmountable could be tackled successfully with the right mindset. Dantzig’s ignorance of the problems’ status allowed him to think freely, without constraint. The key takeaway is that these were not textbook exercises — they were real, open problems in mathematics.
The Impact: This story highlights the power of a positive, open-minded approach. Dantzig’s achievement was not solely a product of brilliance, but also of his unclouded mindset — he didn’t see limits where others did. His success demonstrates how belief in one’s abilities, combined with effort, can lead to unexpected breakthroughs.
.
Final Reflection: Ultimately, this story shows how a simple misunderstanding, combined with determination and an unbiased approach, can result in extraordinary accomplishments. George Dantzig, believing he was merely completing homework, ended up solving problems that had baffled experts. His story reminds us that great achievements often begin when we stop doubting ourselves and simply start.
Comments
Post a Comment