LUMS MATH CIRCLES is becoming an important platform, where we can identify gaps and spread awareness to address the issues of learning and teaching mathematics at the School level. With the increasing use of calculators and mobile gadgets, students somehow forgo the opportunity to delve deep into solving basic arithmetic computational complexities by hand in their early school days. It is an integral component of mathematical thinking; one must put his/her hands in computations. It was reinforced that there is a lot more fun and learning in doing computations by hand. Arithmetic calculations skill is a very important component of the individual's aptitude and problem-solving ability, all it deals with numbers.    

Rightly said by Pythagoras:

Numbers rules the Universe.

and endorsed by Paul Dirac: 

God used beautiful mathematics in creating the World.

Here is a beautiful example, picked by Ali Ashhar Zaidi for the MATH CIRCLE, he conducted on December 24, 2021.​ He led his Math Circle with the charisma of numbers and patterns with whirling patterns and questions, still waiting to be unlocked.

Think of a positive number with different four different digit entries: for example, 8967

                              Arrange the digits in descending order: 9876

                                Arrange the digits in increasing order:  6789

                                        Subtract the above two, we get:  3087 

Now do the same for 3087 and repeat the process and continue.

                               8730 - 0378 = 8352

Now do the same for 8352.

                               8532 - 2358 = 6174

6174 is a magical number, if you repeat the process for 6174, it will yield 6174 again. This number 6174 is known as Kepreker's constant was first discovered by an Indian mathematician D. R. Kaprekar.                               

Ali Ashher Zaidi introduced and discussed number of similar type of patterns and problems of basic nature. He enticed curious participants to feel the magic of numbers in this circle.  He did a superb job in filling the mathematical number theoretic inquisitions of these simple looking patterns in curious minds through stories of great mathematicians, particularly in Ramanujan's style.  Here are a few clicks of the activity. Ali Ashher Zaidi filled the circle with astonishing patterns of numbers, look at the astonished eyes of our young participants.           

Here are some highlights from the event:

For more pictures visit our Facebook page.

Instructors: