Kaohsiung siblings break math world records

Published: December 11, 2000

Source: United Daily News

A brother and his two sisters from Kaohsiung City shattered four Guinness World Records for arithmetic calculation Saturday, under the extemporaneous testing of Kaohsiung Mayor Frank Hsieh and other officials.

Wang Chia-lu, a first-year student at Kaohsiung's Lingya Middle School and currently in level 15 of his mental arithmetic studies, first challenged the record for multiplying two eight-digit figures, correctly calculating the sum in 25.08 seconds, thereby breaking the world record.

The boy then attempted the world record for multiplying two 13-digit figures. The standing record of 28 seconds was set by Shakuntala David, an Indian woman, in 1980.

However, in his first attempt, Wang's answer was wrong in three places, despite the fact that he calculated the sum in 27.08 seconds. The organizers gave him an additional chance, in accordance with the rules, and Wang set a new record of 26.51 seconds.

Wang Chia-lu's two younger sisters performed just as sensationally.

Twelve-year-old Wang Yi-hui, currently in level ten of her mental arithmetic studies, added two 100 single-digit numbers in 18.98 seconds, beating the previous Guinness record of 19.23 seconds.

Finally, 8-year-old Wang Hui-yin, currently in level seven of her mental arithmetic studies, challenged the record for calculating the square root of a six-digit number. She raced across the finish line in a stunning 10.48 seconds, more than 50 seconds faster than the original record of one minute and 3.8 seconds.

The performance, billed as a Guinness World Record challenge to "usher in the 21st century," was sponsored by World Mental Arithmetic Co., Kaohsiung City Government, and other organizations, and took place Saturday at Kaohsiung City's Yencheng Elementary School.

Mayor Hsieh and reporters covering the event selected the figures for the tests extemporaneously. Among those attending as witnesses were Steven Day, chairman of Guinness World of Records-Asia, attorney Tang Ah-ken and computer calculation expert Chen Hung-cheng.

Every action by the three siblings gripped the several hundred observers. In particular, Wang Chia-lu's failed attempt, followed by success, carried the audience to a high peak of drama.

During the siblings' world record challenges, organizers were simultaneously calculating the correct answers by computer. The results of the challenge were announced at the time by Day, who also signed the world record verification certificate.