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Terence Tao: The Prodigy Who Revolutionized Mathematics

From IMO bronze medalist at 10 to Fields Medal recipient, Tao's journey is one of unparalleled brilliance. Discover how his exceptional intellect is reshaping mathematics.

In this image, we can see a person holding a pen and there are some papers and a calculator and...
In this image, we can see a person holding a pen and there are some papers and a calculator and some other objects on the table.

Terence Tao: The Prodigy Who Revolutionized Mathematics

Terence Tao, a prodigious mathematician, entered Princeton University's graduate program at the age of 16 and completed his PhD at 20. Now a professor at UCLA, Tao is renowned for his exceptional intellect and numerous contributions to mathematics.

Tao's mathematical journey began at an early age. At nine, he started studying university-level mathematical analysis. This precocity led him to become the youngest participant in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) at the age of 10, where he won a bronze medal. His talent continued to flourish, and he became a professor at 24.

Tao's intellectual prowess is evident in his prolific output. He has authored 18 books and over 300 scientific papers. His most notable work includes proving the existence of arbitrarily long arithmetic progressions of prime numbers, a collaboration with Ben Green. This achievement, among many others, earned him the prestigious Fields Medal.

Tao's IQ is equally remarkable. He holds the highest recorded IQ of 230, placing him among the highest recorded IQs, which range from 200 to 250. Despite his exceptional intellect, Tao acknowledged in 2025 that he had used ChatGPT to assist with a mathematical task, demonstrating his openness to using technology in his work.

Terence Tao's exceptional talent and dedication have made him one of the most accomplished mathematicians of our time. His numerous awards, publications, and groundbreaking work are a testament to his extraordinary intellect and contributions to the field of mathematics.

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