Why are Russians so good at Maths?

Maria Julia R (L6)

Mathematics being the most frequently and widely studied subject at Marlborough and Russian being a more niche but interesting subject, I thought that it would be interesting to find and explore a connection between the two.

Russia has had a long-standing history of mathematical discoveries, from the Solution of the Poincaré Conjecture in 2006 to the development of Non-Euclidean Geometry. Many of these discoveries have advanced the understanding of Mathematics as a whole. So, what makes Russians so good at Maths?

One of the main reasons is Russia’s strong emphasis on mathematical education. Mathematics is introduced to students from an early age, with students learning basic arithmetic and geometry. Furthermore, the curriculum is focused on rigorous problem-solving and the development of mathematical thinking skills. This teaches students to think logically and to understand the underlying principles behind mathematical concepts, allowing them to think in a different way and develop strong foundations for future learning and research. The teachers also receive rigorous and challenging training before being allowed to teach Mathematics which is a very respected profession in Russia.

Besides, there is a strong culture of Mathematics as it is highly regarded and mathematicians are often celebrated as heroes. This encourages students to strive for excellence in this field. The Soviet Government played a big role in the development of such a prominent culture by investing in education, infrastructure and research. One example is the Steklov Institute of Mathematics, which was founded in 1934 in Moscow and is one of the largest and most prestigious Mathematics research institutes in Russia.

In addition to institutions, they established programs such as the Mathematical Olympiad which allows students to develop their skills and the winners receive the opportunity to attend specialized Mathematics schools. These continue to help create a culture of excellence in Mathematics as they are nowadays very popular and some are even International. Since 1989, Russia has won the most gold medals in the International Mathematical Olympiad of any country with a total of 178 as of 2021.

Nowadays, their educational approach to Mathematics is being copied and adapted for other parts of the world. In the United States particularly, “Russian Maths” is becoming more popular as more and more parents send their children to the program which has expanded to over 50 different locations.

Finally, there are numerous reasons why Russians are good at Maths and the legacy of the mathematical culture is still evident today as their discoveries and theories continue to make significant contributions to the field of Mathematics.