The unparalleled talent of the country started from Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 49: Mathematical models require huge computational effort? Should I change my major?
At the Bingcheng Steel Plant shooting range, after Wang Duoyu briefly explained the parameters of the gun barrel material, Lao Yuanchang's eyes suddenly lit up and he asked excitedly:

"Did you come up with this idea yourself? Have you developed this kind of material before? Which unit are you a technician from? Why haven't I heard of you before?"

"Professor Lao, the thing is, Xiao Wang just took the college entrance exam this year. He applied to your Harbin Institute of Technology. He was previously a writer."

Lin Dehong took the initiative to introduce Wang Duoyu to the latter's identity. Upon hearing this, the light in Lao Yuanchang's eyes shone even brighter, and he said with admiration:
"It's incredible! You can really determine the ratio of various elements in chromium-molybdenum high-alloy steel based on theory alone? I want to ask how you got such data."

Wang Duoyu smiled slightly. He was well prepared for such a question. "It's like this, Professor Lao. I calculated the specific data. We have a steel mill over there. I have relatives working there, and I've been there several times."

"But the steel mill doesn't have these large equipment here, so I can't complete the refining of chromium-molybdenum high-alloy steel. Otherwise, I would have made the hunting rifle I wanted long ago."

Can experimental data be calculated? Lao Yuanchang's eyes widened with disbelief, and he asked in confusion: "Young comrade, although I'm not a mathematics teacher, my mathematical ability is not bad. How come I don't know that experimental data can be calculated?"

"Professor Lao, have you heard of a foreign theory called mathematical modeling? Although I don't have a computer, mathematical modeling can definitely be used to build a mathematical model based on experiments and simulate the experimental data that may arise in various situations. I use this experimental data to perform calculations and ultimately obtain a relatively accurate parameter range."

After a pause, Wang Duoyu continued:
"Our current equipment is incapable of detecting values ​​beyond three decimal places, so I don't need to calculate any complex experimental data."

hiss!
Lao Yuanchang's pupils dilated instantly, and his eyes appeared even larger under the thick lenses. He gasped and asked in surprise, "How much calculation does this require? How long did it take you to calculate the result?"

Of course he knew about mathematical modeling, because this concept had already appeared abroad in the 1960s. In the past few years, since he has been working on the front line of scientific research, he has often been able to come into contact with foreign journals and magazines, which include the concept of mathematical modeling.

I heard that foreign engineers and mathematicians are seeking mathematical modeling methods to describe and simulate various real-world phenomena, and have even used computers for mathematical modeling. Mathematical theories such as differential equations, partial differential equations, and dynamic systems have also gradually been applied to the modeling process, greatly improving the accuracy and applicability of the model, which can be used to simulate and even solve real-world problems.

I never expected that Wang Duoyu in front of me also understood mathematical modeling. He even used this method to solve experimental problems, greatly reducing experimental costs. He is definitely a genius.

Unfortunately, Lao Yuanchang knew his own limitations, so he did not continue to ask Wang Duoyu questions about mathematical modeling.

"The calculation is not too complicated, half a day will be enough." Wang Duoyu said harmlessly. It is true that he only took half a day to complete the calculation results, but in fact, many people nowadays may not be able to complete this part of the calculation task within two days even with the help of computers, of course, except for true mathematical geniuses.

Many mathematical geniuses, like Yu Min, are as capable as, or even more capable than, supercomputers. Previously, Wang Duoyu wrote a mathematical paper where he simply omitted the proof for some of the steps. The math editors simply rejected the paper, suggesting they hadn't calculated the proof, didn't understand the proof, or simply rejected the paper without calculating it at all.

For many people, that part of the proof is too computationally intensive, but for Wang Duoyu, he did not want the paper to be too long and did not want to cheat on the manuscript fee.

In his opinion, the papers he wrote were suspected of being watered-down papers. If some unnecessary calculation and proof processes were included in the papers, then the papers would be too watered-down.

"Okay, okay, very good. You're amazing. You applied to Harbin Institute of Technology, right? What major? Computational mathematics?" Lao Yuanchang's smile froze when he heard the name of the major. He frowned and asked in confusion:
"Your math skills are already very good, so why do you want to continue studying this major? How about this? After your college entrance examination scores come out, come to Harbin Institute of Technology and get a major transfer application form. I can then help you switch your major. How about mechanical engineering? Or materials science is also fine."

Wang Duoyu is definitely a genius, especially his strong mathematical ability, which is absolutely suitable for material research, so Lao Yuanchang wants him to be his student.

"Um, Professor Lao, the college entrance examination scores haven't come out yet. I'm not sure if I can get into university. Besides, I prefer math and don't want to study mechanical engineering or materials science."

Wang Duoyu could only regretfully reject Lao Yuanchang's enthusiasm. In today's era, it was impossible for him to learn any useful knowledge in other majors besides mathematics.

It's not that he already knows a lot of knowledge or technology in high-energy physics, mechanical automation, materials science and other related fields, but that he majored in automation as an undergraduate in his previous life, and later studied mathematics for his doctorate because he had already discovered that his mathematical ability was not enough at that time.

In many experiments, if you don’t have enough mathematical ability, you can only watch helplessly, and if you ask others for help, you will have to wait, so he likes to do it himself.

To give a simple example, calculus has been learned in advanced mathematics at the undergraduate level, but many people still cannot use calculus to describe the changing laws between electric fields, magnetic fields, charge density, and current density. It would be even more difficult to derive and calculate the relativistic Lorentz transformation.

As for mathematics, Wang Duoyu felt that there was still a lot to learn. Even though he had become a mathematics professor at Peking University in his previous life, mathematics was too vast. He had only learned a part of it and used that part to solve practical problems.

In this life, he needs to start from the most basic level, then explore pure theoretical mathematics in depth, and then use pure theoretical mathematics to cover and solve the mathematical problems encountered in reality.

(End of this chapter)