Billionaire Mathematician - Numberphile

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  • Опубликовано: 10 июн 2024
  • Full length version of this interview (one hour): • Jim Simons (full lengt...
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    More about The Simons Foundation: bit.ly/SimonsFoundation
    James Harris Simons has been described as "the world's smartest billionaire", amassing a fortune through the clever use of mathematics and computers. He is now a renowned philanthropist.
    Chern-Simons paper: bit.ly/ChernSimons
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    Videos by Brady Haran
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Комментарии • 2,7 тыс.

  • @joshuanorman2
    @joshuanorman2 5 лет назад +6382

    boi accidentally kept multiplying his money

  • @arunkumarvikram
    @arunkumarvikram 9 лет назад +5179

    Its extremely rare for this guy to give interviews. I don't know how you guys managed it. Kudos !

    • @Falcrist
      @Falcrist 9 лет назад +50

      ***** I've been subbed to Brady's channels since before there was a numberphile... but not everyone who loves science needs subscribes, or even likes this content.

    • @Falcrist
      @Falcrist 9 лет назад +43

      ***** I know plenty of people who have degrees in STEM fields who don't use youtube in the first place, and plenty more who don't like watching science videos.

    • @Falcrist
      @Falcrist 9 лет назад +13

      ***** The category is "people I know who have degrees in stem fields but don't use youtube or don't like watching these channels."
      To the best of my knowledge, that category does not involve any extraterrestrial aliens... though it does involve quite a few people who aren't US citizens.

    • @Falcrist
      @Falcrist 9 лет назад +3

      *****
      Why, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, of course!

    • @pezaventura
      @pezaventura 9 лет назад +8

      ***** yep, Numberphile, computerphile are way better than any other popsci channels

  • @bcfblack
    @bcfblack 4 года назад +3610

    "I'm pleased mostly with the way my career has gone."
    -multibillionaire

    • @hugostiglitz4215
      @hugostiglitz4215 4 года назад +98

      The measure of a man is not how many green pieces of paper they hold, it's who they are as a person

    • @charging7
      @charging7 4 года назад +54

      Funny that is your conclusion and you're not alone with almost 400 likes, I don't see his financial worth having anything to do with 'success'. I understand how the money can be a measurement of one's success but it's a poor one at best.

    • @hugostiglitz4215
      @hugostiglitz4215 4 года назад +2

      @TheBlondie I would imagine it would be very pleasing to be a CEO making seven figures with a golden parachute. 👑

    • @youraverageidiot6474
      @youraverageidiot6474 4 года назад

      Bruh

    • @bcfblack
      @bcfblack 4 года назад +7

      @@hugostiglitz4215 i didn't say anything about how to measure a man. also, almost none of his money is liquid, no?

  • @jibbiddy
    @jibbiddy 4 года назад +1590

    "Well this was kind of fun." Power move.

    • @raymondphilip6232
      @raymondphilip6232 4 года назад +5

      Stay curious, eh?

    • @darian2332
      @darian2332 3 года назад +14

      Damn, this one cracked me up. Soo true.

    • @renatohugoviloriagonzales8189
      @renatohugoviloriagonzales8189 2 года назад

      Es bueno estar dentro de las Matemáticas, sensible de tener toda la idea de su Potencial.

    • @jonathantc08
      @jonathantc08 2 года назад

      @@darian2332 pp

    • @crimsonpirate1710
      @crimsonpirate1710 2 года назад +2

      Be nice to hear the greedy fools reaction to the $7bn fine he's just been hit with.

  • @Rohit-oz1or
    @Rohit-oz1or 4 года назад +462

    He liked the interview because the interviewer was genuinely interested in his life and motivations, and not on the lookout for the next trade idea.

    • @1xtra299
      @1xtra299 2 года назад +17

      Additionally, it wasn't really about money. It was more about math.

    • @theyredistortingyourrhythm.
      @theyredistortingyourrhythm. 2 года назад +2

      Who's AWAKE in 2021?

    • @Dibat24
      @Dibat24 3 месяца назад +2

      23😂 ​@@theyredistortingyourrhythm.

    • @blackcitadel37
      @blackcitadel37 2 месяца назад

      @@theyredistortingyourrhythm. take your pills

  • @MD.fitness.1
    @MD.fitness.1 4 года назад +1881

    Nick Simons institute (named after his son who sadly passed away) has done a lot in for upliftment of rural healthcare here in Nepal. Thank you sir :)

  • @JoseHernandez-fk3jz
    @JoseHernandez-fk3jz Месяц назад +12

    Rest in Peace, a great mathematician and his contributions to the research mathematics community has been invaluable

  • @jonathancarey6082
    @jonathancarey6082 4 года назад +1294

    "Well, this was mostly fun."
    That sounds like a mathematician after mild socialization lol

    • @somestingyontheinternet683
      @somestingyontheinternet683 3 года назад +26

      14 Billion dollars, a fairly pleasant experience wouldn't you say?

    • @God-gi9iu
      @God-gi9iu 3 года назад +1

      O

    • @tim40gabby25
      @tim40gabby25 2 года назад +25

      ".. kinda fun", in fact.

    • @refilwempanzori
      @refilwempanzori 2 года назад +3

      2 of my siblings are mathematicians and this is accurate 😂😂😂😂

    • @ty6339
      @ty6339 2 года назад

      The interview is has the attribute "fun" almoat everywhere.

  • @jaredfocose2048
    @jaredfocose2048 8 лет назад +2522

    I like how he always takes a moment to judge the quality of the question being asked before answering it :)
    "That's an interesting question."

    • @AmericazGotTalentYT
      @AmericazGotTalentYT 7 лет назад +131

      "next question"

    • @thisrocks
      @thisrocks 7 лет назад +18

      AmericazGotTalentYT I liked your comment but realised I took the like count over 7 so took it off. Here's a comment like.

    • @abz4852
      @abz4852 6 лет назад +2

      your comment has 7 likes for a year please leave it like this

    • @corbeau-_-
      @corbeau-_- 6 лет назад +4

      abdullah yakub you jinxed it -.-

    • @allknowledge7146
      @allknowledge7146 5 лет назад +13

      He probably has an extremely deep analytical ability.

  • @rammetin99
    @rammetin99 9 лет назад +2189

    haha loved the ending statement "well this was kinda fun "

    • @acediamond5399
      @acediamond5399 9 лет назад +56

      Ramtin Javanmardi Hah! Yeah. This guy is kinda great.

    • @acediamond5399
      @acediamond5399 9 лет назад +9

      Ace Diamond Also, how did I give this comment its 200th thumbs up, yet only the 1st reply?

    • @Falcrist
      @Falcrist 9 лет назад +9

      Ramtin Javanmardi It's quite the contrast from John Conway, who clearly didn't want to be there.

    • @Vulcapyro
      @Vulcapyro 9 лет назад +113

      Ramtin Javanmardi To be honest, Brady gave pretty spectacular questions here. He didn't seem to be expecting many of the questions Brady threw at him so he probably enjoyed the talk more than he thought he would.

    • @rammetin99
      @rammetin99 9 лет назад +7

      Vulcapyro indeed that is the same impression I had :D A truly excellent interview!

  • @B15HOP
    @B15HOP 4 года назад +984

    He's like the architect from The Matrix.

  • @edwardmclaughlin7935
    @edwardmclaughlin7935 2 года назад +68

    Aside from all his core achievement: what an incredible timbre to his speaking voice.

    • @n5yiz
      @n5yiz 2 года назад +10

      Just start smoking two-packs a day, you'll be there in no time.

    • @flippedpickle1509
      @flippedpickle1509 2 года назад +1

      His voice and accent reminded me of how Humphrey Bogart sounds.

  • @BeatPoet67
    @BeatPoet67 6 лет назад +504

    What a remarkably grounded man. I loved his reaction to "would you trade the business for the Reimann hypothesis?" He kind of lit up - "well I'd trade some of it!"

    • @CraigMansfield
      @CraigMansfield 4 года назад +61

      He totally came alive :D
      Ohhh the Reimann hypothesis?
      I watched his eyes, they immediately darted down - automatically considering, then he looked away. Interesting body language. I think it made a welcome change to the constant interest in his money.

    • @magtovi
      @magtovi 4 года назад +43

      All the prestige, the immortality of his name flashed before his eyes in a second...
      And still, in the end, he wouldn't have traded in all his hard work and the resulting billions that came out from it.

    • @chijanai
      @chijanai 2 года назад +2

      Riemann

    • @SumeriyaYaxlaka
      @SumeriyaYaxlaka 3 месяца назад +1

      No billy is grounded in any sense of the word but this one comes pretty close😅

  • @campanmarius5241
    @campanmarius5241 9 лет назад +599

    I love this interview ! This is how every interview should be conducted.
    No interrruptions, clear questions, clear answers.

    • @yolodaswagg
      @yolodaswagg 6 лет назад +8

      bad interviewer imo

    • @mamu5983
      @mamu5983 5 лет назад +9

      No interruptions - critical!

    • @santiagovega3403
      @santiagovega3403 5 лет назад +3

      +fingerguns agreed... the interviewer's questions leave a lot to be desired.

    • @andyhuang2112
      @andyhuang2112 5 лет назад

      kerk tp 芝

  • @alk555
    @alk555 4 года назад +577

    Simons makes his point with the analogy: "...you may have great film equipment, but that's not why you're a success..."
    Meanwhile the camera guy screws up the shot.

    • @oaflet
      @oaflet 4 года назад +38

      You don't think that was deliberate?

    • @brunoarnabar7450
      @brunoarnabar7450 2 года назад +1

      @@oaflet no the shots were no bueno

    • @batman2311
      @batman2311 2 года назад +1

      Lol!

  • @paulorasantos
    @paulorasantos 5 лет назад +897

    Amazing... I didn't know Obi Wan Kenobi was a mathematician.

    • @raymeester7883
      @raymeester7883 4 года назад +22

      *The Architect.

    • @saumitragautam8333
      @saumitragautam8333 4 года назад +20

      May the 4s be with you.

    • @hugoclarke3284
      @hugoclarke3284 3 года назад

      "...but they'll soon be back, and in greater numbers"

    • @arun-it9gr
      @arun-it9gr 2 года назад +1

      Jedis are portrayed as warriors more than monks, for obvious cinematic reasons, but they would have to have atleast a top undergraduate level of maths..

    • @steelsteez6118
      @steelsteez6118 2 года назад

      @@saumitragautam8333 😂👍

  • @agent45267
    @agent45267 9 лет назад +3057

    I'm another boy who dreams of being a baseball.

    • @Utsavbajra
      @Utsavbajra 9 лет назад +159

      Pretty sure you're the only one who dreams of being a "baseball".

    • @jakedowman-french3205
      @jakedowman-french3205 9 лет назад +123

      Utsavbajra He isn't.

    • @ten.seconds
      @ten.seconds 9 лет назад +122

      Utsavbajra When I was small I dreamed of being a shuttlecock

    • @SalamandraTheNinja
      @SalamandraTheNinja 9 лет назад +31

      agent45267 I'm gonna be a blitzball when I grow up!

    • @felixdakat734
      @felixdakat734 9 лет назад +10

      When I grow up I want to be a steam shovel!

  • @shaynewilliams4482
    @shaynewilliams4482 6 лет назад +1435

    who's favorite part of the video was when he said "with MY money......but nonetheless"

    • @juicelee3948
      @juicelee3948 4 года назад +6

      Shayne Williams hilarious 😂

    • @cullenl2508
      @cullenl2508 4 года назад +41

      @Markus Patients it had to be said

    • @djclgrant7335
      @djclgrant7335 4 года назад +37

      @Markus Patients agreed. I think it was my least favourite part of the interview.

    • @jwalker6260
      @jwalker6260 4 года назад +18

      How big does an ego need to be to need billions?

    • @greytoeimp
      @greytoeimp 4 года назад +1

      who is? english education ain't great either, i think

  • @PaulMarostica
    @PaulMarostica 5 лет назад +510

    It’s wonderful to learn that, for once, a theory scientist actually earned what their work was worth.

    • @benjaminchenevey7967
      @benjaminchenevey7967 3 года назад +54

      He didn't. He made all of his money in a completely different field. The work he has done in the field he is in becomes completely useless if it were to be made public, as well, which is completely different from his work as a mathematician.

    • @tyler7992
      @tyler7992 2 года назад +10

      King Pistachion cry about it

    • @jowbloe4700
      @jowbloe4700 2 года назад +1

      That's Hypothetical

    • @j4k3z
      @j4k3z 2 года назад

      Man, what a seriously important point that is.

    • @thepurplepanda4
      @thepurplepanda4 Год назад +2

      @@benjaminchenevey7967 Working as a mathematician in theory is just as much so as working as a mathematician in application. Mathematics is a system you carry with you, not something that is fundamentally binary.

  • @JuanGarcia-zy8yw
    @JuanGarcia-zy8yw 5 лет назад +472

    just like most motivational speakers,philosophers, life coaches, and authors like napoleaon hill have said " the only thing you have to do is decide what you want to do. knowing how or the specifics of the goal is irrelevant, those aspects will unfold as you progress". this man said" I always knew I wanted to be a mathematician , whatever that meant"...

    • @cesarforte617
      @cesarforte617 4 года назад

      True

    • @Scottsummers95
      @Scottsummers95 4 года назад

      Reed Morris which was?

    • @t6hp
      @t6hp 3 года назад

      That's a very interesting concept. Most people I know aren't like that. They simply see the best thing that suits them and go for it

    • @PickyMcCritical
      @PickyMcCritical 3 года назад

      disagree

    • @DexterHaven
      @DexterHaven 2 года назад

      Yes, James Deen said he knew he wanted to be an adult-film star as a young kid too.

  • @LearnPhilosophistry
    @LearnPhilosophistry 9 лет назад +274

    Absolutely astounding you guys got a James Simons interview. He's well known for never giving interviews, despite the fact that so many people find him fascinating.

  • @marlonborreo
    @marlonborreo 6 лет назад +426

    Love this interview. Never heard of the interviewee beforehand, never heard of the interviewer before. But I love how the ideas just flowed. I love how the interviewee wasn't interrupted. And I love the quality of the questions. really learned a lot about the guy after watching this. 18 minutes spent really well.

    • @oaflet
      @oaflet 4 года назад +10

      You had me at liking/loving
      ► how the interviewee wasn't interrupted.
      I've trashed a few walls, putting my fist or forehead(*) through them, when BBC and NPR (among others) said
      "I'm afraid we're out of time"
      just as substance reared its head. Particularly when the first part of said interview reviewed the interviewee's university's football team.
      ________
      (*) Both beyond repair.

    • @cthompson0531
      @cthompson0531 4 года назад +9

      He's a genius, but also seems like a cool guy you could have a pint with at the pub while you integrate polynomials

    • @Trenacetate43
      @Trenacetate43 3 года назад +1

      The interviewer had no clue about the capital markets or mathematics, as a chemical engineering graduate and a trader, if I were the interviewer I'd ask him so many quality questions

    • @onlyhalo2559
      @onlyhalo2559 3 года назад +18

      @@Trenacetate43 r/iamverysmart

    • @Mystery_Biscuits
      @Mystery_Biscuits 11 месяцев назад

      @@oafletbro really put a footnote in a RUclips comment

  • @rjung_ch
    @rjung_ch Год назад +5

    At the end, "This was kind of fun". A humble guy and still alive in 2023! All the best Mr. Simons.

  • @kylebroussard5952
    @kylebroussard5952 4 года назад +306

    "The computer does what you tell it to do. It's just a tool."
    Yerp.

    • @greenarchipelago7
      @greenarchipelago7 4 года назад +34

      Exactly what I tell people about calculators. Many people who haven't learned much math past high school algebra like to think that you can just punch anything in a calculator and it'll spit out the correct answer. VERY wrong. The calculator only knows what you tell it to do. The operator must understand the math he uses the calculator for.

    • @iwontreplybacklol7481
      @iwontreplybacklol7481 4 года назад +13

      Till it becomes the terminator

    • @dielaughing73
      @dielaughing73 3 года назад +6

      Garbage in, garbage out

    • @wojciechkowcz5303
      @wojciechkowcz5303 3 года назад +2

      Thank capt. obvious

    • @Mr35diamonds
      @Mr35diamonds 3 года назад +3

      Tyler Traylor this reminds me of a time in high school where little kids thought the high schoolers were cheating cus they were using calculators for a homework problem 😂😂

  • @bryansfistfulofwood4620
    @bryansfistfulofwood4620 7 лет назад +397

    "We'll I'd probably trade some of it." As spoken by a true businessman.

    • @Johnny-cz2wv
      @Johnny-cz2wv 5 лет назад +10

      No, the way he answered the questions was an indication to how he weighed his responses.. Because he's trained to do so in the marketplace.

    • @tomm5765
      @tomm5765 5 лет назад +1

      @@Johnny-cz2wv both right

    • @agradman
      @agradman 4 года назад +3

      This was my favorite line

    • @sepg5084
      @sepg5084 4 года назад +3

      don't put your eggs in one basket

    • @paulgoogol2652
      @paulgoogol2652 4 года назад

      You wouldn't go to the grocery and give all your savings for sliced bread either, or would you?

  • @jassandhar9442
    @jassandhar9442 9 лет назад +727

    Brady (and filming crew), I would like to thank you for the amazing amount of effort and quality you put forth in these videos. The work you are doing on this channel and others (Objectivity is purely awesome) is inspiring and I believe will inspire the youth to pursuit knowledge and understanding.

    • @adil1815
      @adil1815 7 лет назад +6

      Jas Sandhar I'm 15 and Brady's channels and it's collaborators inspire me

    • @NoobieDoobieDo
      @NoobieDoobieDo 6 лет назад +3

      This interview and camera work was terrible. Dont thank them for anything. He dressed like he was going to walmart and asked boring and borderline rude questions.

    • @bradypeterson3428
      @bradypeterson3428 6 лет назад +2

      Thanks

    • @xiangdeng1441
      @xiangdeng1441 6 лет назад

      my thoughts exactly

  • @thagodwidin9167
    @thagodwidin9167 5 лет назад +15

    I used to serve this guy in Stony Brook university at the Simon center. Very down to earth and was the only one allowed to smoke indoors because he owned the place lol. Highly intelligent. Always hanging out with other mathematicians.

  • @chonkycat123
    @chonkycat123 Месяц назад +6

    RIP Jim, 1938-2024

    • @jackbrady9738
      @jackbrady9738 Месяц назад

      Respect for paying your respects 🎉

    • @farmpoint-ji3cn
      @farmpoint-ji3cn Месяц назад

      Bro i feel very sad 😢 😢
      because of your comment i had to go to google and i discovered it's true

  • @nico_rico3185
    @nico_rico3185 9 лет назад +1124

    Haha, I love him. "Well this was kind of fun."

    • @smonyboy
      @smonyboy 6 лет назад +23

      nicko_rico
      He was being sarcastic..

    • @sdrachid13
      @sdrachid13 6 лет назад +2

      Slightly

    • @4notron
      @4notron 6 лет назад +37

      He was not being sarcastic in the slightest..... But, who is John G.A.L.T.?

    • @luckyvet
      @luckyvet 6 лет назад +2

      Sarcastic, he'd rather be doing math.

    • @JorgetePanete
      @JorgetePanete 6 лет назад

      nico_rico well,*

  • @criskity
    @criskity 9 лет назад +428

    "Chern" - It is actually Chen, but using a bizarre Chinese romanization system called "Gwoyeu Romatzyh" that was briefly popular in Taiwan.

    • @zuzusuperfly8363
      @zuzusuperfly8363 9 лет назад +157

      CNVideos Woah, dropping some dank knowledge.

    • @thoperSought
      @thoperSought 9 лет назад +9

      CNVideos
      that's amazing

    • @shipper66
      @shipper66 9 лет назад +8

      CNVideos fcking wikipedia monster u are !

    • @Hollyweed1
      @Hollyweed1 9 лет назад +3

      CNVideos wooow what was that!!!

    • @thoperSought
      @thoperSought 8 лет назад +4

      *****
      no, if the guy romanized his name as "chern," then everybody speaking English will have pronounced it with the 'r,' it's not a matter of not knowing how to pronounce it.
      you get the same thing with Japanese: people often romanize things that should be (for example) "chi" as "ti," or "tsu" as "tu," because that's the fastest way to type it on a Japanese computer. it doesn't remotely give English speakers the right idea, and so they scratch their heads about why people pronounce it weird, but often just accept it.
      the fact that it doesn't match Japanese is sort of beside the point by then-that becomes how people pronounce it, and (in the case of names) may be how they introduce themselves when speaking English.

  • @Tech_Planet
    @Tech_Planet 2 года назад +287

    Hello Neo, I am the Architect. I created the matrix.

    • @luima5198
      @luima5198 2 года назад +1

      Which one?

    • @omsharma1405
      @omsharma1405 2 года назад

      @@luima5198 7th version

    • @cid3384
      @cid3384 2 года назад

      That's racist 🤡

    • @tonyjones2742
      @tonyjones2742 2 года назад

      Fraud fail

    • @naimbeats
      @naimbeats 2 года назад

      🤣🤣🤣 I was thinking the same thing. He does looks like him.

  • @saiprashanth2400
    @saiprashanth2400 4 года назад +43

    12:43 His eyes lights up on hearing the question. Btw it was a great question ask a mathematician. He would be that he would immortalized if he does something like that.

  • @OwenPrescott
    @OwenPrescott 9 лет назад +531

    Reminds me of the Architect from the Matrix.

    • @wasikhan7741
      @wasikhan7741 5 лет назад +10

      so true!!!!!

    • @rubyjoy9752
      @rubyjoy9752 5 лет назад +1

      No....

    • @eprjct
      @eprjct 5 лет назад +1

      Damn, I can go back after reading your comment!

    • @dvd11811
      @dvd11811 5 лет назад +7

      Hope, It is the quintessential human delusion, simultaneously the source of your greatest strength and greatest weakness.

    • @antoniosantiago22
      @antoniosantiago22 5 лет назад

      Beat me to the punch

  • @WheatleyOS
    @WheatleyOS 8 лет назад +860

    14 billion dollar mathematician: favorite number "7... next question" XD

  • @jnicholson79jn
    @jnicholson79jn 2 года назад +6

    This man has the most natural and (almost oddly) unalarming air of confidence to him. And I feel like he's earned that confidence.

  • @Mr.Tiger.2013
    @Mr.Tiger.2013 5 лет назад +21

    One of those rare people on earth, we need more!

  • @vinayseth1114
    @vinayseth1114 8 лет назад +145

    The Architect from the Matrix :D

    • @gatoradeee
      @gatoradeee 8 лет назад +6

      "statistical anomaly" "ergo" "vis-a-vis"

    • @vinayseth1114
      @vinayseth1114 8 лет назад

      Did he really say 'ergo' in this interview? Or are or are you just referring to the Architect?

    • @gatoradeee
      @gatoradeee 8 лет назад +6

      Only referring to the Architect. Simon's actually says statistical anomaly in the video though.

    • @vinayseth1114
      @vinayseth1114 8 лет назад +2

      Oh- haha, if someone actually used 'ergo' in a real-life interview, I'd be freaked out! :D

    • @AlCatrraz
      @AlCatrraz 7 лет назад

      LOL
      I use the word ERGO a lot...
      I am not famous to be interviewed though...
      I am educated in VARIOUS SCIENCES.. Mostly Math Computer Science...
      Never saw the MATRIX either...
      Here is an examples::
      Cogito Ergo Sum!
      Government Is (a necessary) EVIL!
      ergo:: GOVERNMENT IS EVIL!

  • @Fightclub1995
    @Fightclub1995 9 лет назад +545

    If people ask, what is the use of mathematics. Send them to this guy

    • @stevenboelke6661
      @stevenboelke6661 9 лет назад +16

      jmw150 Would he not have an answer?

    • @jmw1500
      @jmw1500 9 лет назад +46

      Not one applicable to most people... There is a lot more to math than hedge funds.

    • @9308323
      @9308323 9 лет назад +38

      Fightclub1995 Or rather, try asking them to give an example of an invention in the last five centuries that didn't involve math.

    • @glitchxero4687
      @glitchxero4687 8 лет назад +34

      Fightclub1995 When people ask me what the use of mathematics is, I just say, "I don't know, haven't figured it out. Hey, I'll give you five of these one dollar bills for that one fifty dollar bill."

    • @markomak1
      @markomak1 8 лет назад +1

      +Fightclub1995 Bill Gates also went to Harvard to study mathematics.

  • @Kevin-ql7dn
    @Kevin-ql7dn 2 года назад +5

    He couldn’t be more spot on about the quality of math education

  • @0000_official
    @0000_official 5 лет назад +92

    “People work for a combination of money and respect” - I think that’s one of the most profound insights I’ve heard one taking in what work means for people. Work is one of the most important pillars of life... and here we have such a simple and profound conclusions about it.

    • @paulmetdebbie447
      @paulmetdebbie447 3 года назад +5

      Yes, unfortunately this mostly leads to getting badly payed menial jobs. So there must be something wrong with this approach. Only if you go for intrinsic motivation, for fun, or because you just believe in what you do, you will be truly successful and happy. He is a clear example of that. It's not clear if he realizes this himself.

    • @ian9toes
      @ian9toes 2 года назад +1

      Paul met Debbie
      I think he’s career of spotting patterns in the stock market is a pathetic job in terms of contribution to society. No one benefits from that pattern recognition except himself.
      Bill Gates, Elon Musk and even Jeff Bezos actually contribute something.
      Elon talks about how most of the really smart people get into finance jobs but someone has to make the stuff.
      James said people work for money or respect, but what about bringing something new to the world, inventing something. One could get a lot of satisfaction out of inventing something even if it doesn’t bring a lot of money or respect.

    • @GummyJeff
      @GummyJeff 2 года назад +1

      it's actually the statement i most disagree with. people don't work for money and respect, they work for value.
      not everyone sees respect as a desirable asset.

    • @freshestinclass763
      @freshestinclass763 2 года назад

      @@ian9toes sounds like you have the desire to invent something 🤔

    • @DexterHaven
      @DexterHaven 2 года назад +1

      @@ian9toes You are missing the point entirely. People who have made money in their field desperately want to invest it, so it can grow. Colleges and public charities live off of their investments, silly. Simons's Medallion Fund allowed thousands of investors to compound their savings, which benefited students, charities, teachers, families, helped people survive in retirement, etc. You seem clueless and bitter or you just don't understand the purpose of investment management at all.

  • @gasdive
    @gasdive 9 лет назад +889

    None of my High School maths teachers could have worked for google. Not unless the job at google was to read aloud from a book that they didn't understand.

    • @ultimaetsolder
      @ultimaetsolder 9 лет назад +16

      Very true. Agree with this 100%

    • @gasdive
      @gasdive 9 лет назад +42

      "30-40 years ago if you knew some mathematics, say enough to teach lets say at high school... but today if you know that much mathematics [ie, enough to get a job teaching high school] you can get a job at Google, you can get a job at IBM, you can get a job at Goldman Sachs."
      30-40 years ago *was* when I was enduring mathematics at high school. My teachers "knew enough to teach...at high school" back then but if you teleported them to today they wouldn't get a job at Google, IBM or Goldman Sachs. Unless, as I said, the job at the high tech company involved reading a book they didn't understand out loud. They weren't quite innumerate but the weren't a long stretch from being such. Any questions or requests for clarification of a point just resulted in them reading the text book out loud a second time. I learnt pretty early on that if I didn't get it from reading the text myself, I wasn't going to get any help from them.

    • @Aaku13
      @Aaku13 9 лет назад +23

      gasdive you probably didn't take very high math then. in Calc and stats my teachers were brilliant, whereas the lesser maths were just book regurgitation as calc and stats is a bitch to teach if you don't know the material.

    • @007doyley
      @007doyley 9 лет назад +14

      I don't know how it is in the US, but I am currently a sixth form student in the UK studying maths and f. Maths, and my teachers consist of someone with a theoretical physics degree, and someone who did work for someone like IBM (programming algorithms) back in the 80s, so I would say my teachers certainly could get higher paying jobs.

    • @JamesMichaelDoyle
      @JamesMichaelDoyle 9 лет назад

      ***** absolutely wrong in regards the USA and Canada.

  • @wadap0
    @wadap0 5 лет назад +13

    That was a very good assessment from the interviewee. He said "that's an interesting question" on several occasions, and at the end said, "well this was kind of fun". So well done, you did a great job from his point of view, which is very important!

  • @jmitterii2
    @jmitterii2 5 лет назад +10

    He's so right about our terrible math in K-12 teaching. I graduated 2001... all through it seemed to just repeat and was way slow. And the teachers weren't that great, some didn't even understand the material themselves.

  • @marcuscicero9587
    @marcuscicero9587 5 лет назад +4

    what an accomplished man. anything but snoody and very understandable in his conversation. I like people like this.

  • @SenorDevin
    @SenorDevin 9 лет назад +609

    Oh wow. Starting at 15:00, Mr. Simons says exactly how I feel about wanting to become a math teacher. I was a student that never really had a strong grasp on mathematical concepts, in fact I failed two of my math classes my freshman year of college. Now however I am getting A's on my tests and am absolutely in love with math. I want to get my master's after I complete my undergrad and hopefully work towards a PhD if life goes that way. I want people to never have to struggle like I did. I had some bad teachers that made me hate math, and I don't think it's fair that students get the bottom of the barrel when it comes to math and science teachers in high school. We need to push math and science more and more in the future, and the only way to get the future generations interested is by having teachers that truly have a passion for students to learn. If that means that my pay check is not as big as my colleagues, then so be it. If and when I see my future students become billionaires like Mr. Simons, I will smile to myself and be proud.

    • @ho2sorellestupide
      @ho2sorellestupide 9 лет назад +3

      SenorDevin how did you do that? how? please help me...

    • @StyxTBuferd
      @StyxTBuferd 9 лет назад +16

      SenorDevin That's an incredibly noble story. I would push on that and ask exactly what you think math teachers should do to show that they have a passion for their students to learn. I'm graduating in a little over a year and I've learned a lot in that time, and am still learning. I gotta tell you, it's not just about knowing the math. It's about how we teach it, and how we keep students engaged in a meaningful, real-world kind of way.

    • @TopLel123
      @TopLel123 9 лет назад

      SenorDevin How did you do it?

    • @manla8397
      @manla8397 9 лет назад +4

      Well said. I had similar wish to become a great scientist from secondary school and still had similar idea when I finished my phd. I thought money is not important; knowledge is my world and I enjoyed it and I still enjoy it. However. I met my girlfriend, now my wife. I need to get into the real world and earn some money to support my family, and made a decision not to worry about research funding any more..

    • @zuzusuperfly8363
      @zuzusuperfly8363 9 лет назад +10

      SenorDevin My dream is to build an online infrastructure for youth so that math and science becomes a really enjoyable way of spending some of your time on the internet. A kind of modern forum/social network with great videos, software, and simulations that make total use of current technology and that also presents knowledge from upper year undergraduate courses that's really hard to find outside of expensive textbooks. The dream is that most students will have an understanding of math and science that is always ahead of their current school year, so they never have to see anything for the first time in school. They just show up, learn about what they're going to be expected to know for the exams during ordinary class, and then take the test to prove their competence in a way that society has always seen as legitimate. The school experience won't define their personal relationship with the subjects. The enthusiasm people have for these things in the public space is far better suited for packaging information for consumption than an underpaid teacher. Hopefully one day I'll be effective at channeling some of that enthusiasm.

  • @weallareearthling
    @weallareearthling 6 лет назад +389

    "with my money,but nonetheless ". :D there is some ouch.haha

    • @keagan2509
      @keagan2509 5 лет назад +12

      yeah lol. big oof

    • @henryguitarhero
      @henryguitarhero 5 лет назад +2

      if he has $14 billion it wouldnt even make a dent

    • @khalidsyoung
      @khalidsyoung 4 года назад +2

      @@henryguitarhero he didn't have 14b in 1994 , but was very wealthy of course based off his own skills and the people he surrounded his self with

    • @jinjunliu2401
      @jinjunliu2401 4 года назад +1

      @@henryguitarhero personal worth (according to forbes) isn't the same as how much money someone has (available)

  • @ceesaydesignsolutions
    @ceesaydesignsolutions 5 лет назад +5

    ‘One guy’s discovery leads to another guy’s invention leading to another man’s machine’, Dope line 👏🏿

  • @dtsx1557
    @dtsx1557 4 года назад +22

    18:22 "Well this was kind of fun."

  • @jior6
    @jior6 8 лет назад +320

    "well this was kinda fun" LOL

    • @zzdoodzz
      @zzdoodzz 4 года назад +17

      I caught that as well and got a laugh out of it. The guy is smart and also old, and must realize time is short now for him, so maybe his motivation to do this interview was just something fun to do while on his break for the day.

    • @TheRower94
      @TheRower94 4 года назад +1

      I was just going to comment that

  • @dox_xus
    @dox_xus 9 лет назад +319

    He reminds me of Mike from Breaking Bad

  • @paulneilson6117
    @paulneilson6117 2 года назад +5

    I love the fact that MIT sent him to Berkeley.
    Great interview.

  • @gerbaldo90
    @gerbaldo90 3 года назад +2

    What a fascinating man. I've honestly never seen so many brilliant people until I've subscribed to this channel. Great work!

  • @jacobopstad5483
    @jacobopstad5483 6 лет назад +3

    It's so reassuring to know there are people like him behind the scenes.

  • @askformoreinfowhichyouwont7510
    @askformoreinfowhichyouwont7510 7 лет назад +85

    "It's mostly statistics" - He said what I assumed, since a long time. From there, with statistical analysis, you calculate probabilities and from there you can start thinking about money.

    • @MrSupernova111
      @MrSupernova111 7 лет назад +18

      I fell in love with statistics from my very first semester in college because you once you understand basic concepts like variance and standard deviation you can start using them immediately. Were it not for the set back to take the required courses for a major in stats I would do it. So I decided on a minor in stats to complement my major in finance. I should be done by this time next year.
      Also, I already use the concepts I have learned so far in stats at my work. I highly recommend stats for anyone who has an interest in doing any type of analysis in life.

    • @alexbougias2948
      @alexbougias2948 6 лет назад +2

      No just statistics,maybe quantum mathematics too

    • @akilbozbas
      @akilbozbas 4 года назад +8

      Lemme make it easier for you. They use AI to make those predictions bud. This isn't a secret and neither something that nobody thought before. Everybody in this business knows that is possible and maybe 50% uses it. But not everybody who uses it makes a lot of money and this comes down to how you should structure your "model" and what anomalies you will use for it? That is the thing. And these are things that he didn't tell in this interview.

    • @antonhelsgaun
      @antonhelsgaun 3 года назад

      @@akilbozbas but wouldn't the point of the ai be to discover the anomalies on it's own?

    • @shalomnoronha5477
      @shalomnoronha5477 3 года назад

      @@alexbougias2948 no there was no quantum mathematics

  • @pranayvenkatesh8815
    @pranayvenkatesh8815 5 лет назад +16

    Great interview. Many journalists should learn from this: no hostility, and the other side feels very comfortable. Simons was also very nice and humble. A gem of a video to watch.

  • @geolover5958
    @geolover5958 2 года назад +6

    This man proved that maths or science is not for just passing exams ,it has many real life applications too .it depends upon us how we use it ,only for passing exams or for real life too.

    • @agrajyadav2951
      @agrajyadav2951 Год назад +1

      Earning money is one of the lamest application of maths

  • @2gofar57
    @2gofar57 7 лет назад +6

    Thanks to the creators of Numberphile for coming up with amazing content about mathematics and featuring great people in this field!

  • @oB_Session
    @oB_Session 7 лет назад +76

    My dad had a jacket just like that...that was in 1986.

    • @dorianphilotheates3769
      @dorianphilotheates3769 5 лет назад +10

      Bob - In that case, I think I may be your father...

    • @ChrisPadillaAZ
      @ChrisPadillaAZ 4 года назад +3

      It’s amazing how simple and basic Billionares are. Not all of them of course, but many of them.

    • @BN-fi9wi
      @BN-fi9wi 4 года назад

      I doubt that your dad's jacket was as expensive as this. All due respect to your dad but even though Simon looks plain, you can see from his "simple jewellery" that he isn't cheap

  • @DX-oq6lh
    @DX-oq6lh 5 лет назад +6

    This was incredible. Probably one of my favourite interviews I've ever seen. Fascinating and well spoken guy

  • @CarpeDiemTomorrow
    @CarpeDiemTomorrow 5 лет назад +9

    As others have mentioned, this was a tremendous interview. Excellent work on the video edits. Thank you!

  • @halwestm3767
    @halwestm3767 9 лет назад +3

    Loved the video. Thank your for bringing this to us Brady and thanks to Dr. Simons for doing the interview.

  • @aakaditya
    @aakaditya 8 лет назад +3

    Awesome interview. you asked so many questions that nobody else would ask. thank you.

  • @czernm20
    @czernm20 4 года назад +55

    2:30 Wait what?! I am "Chernavsky" from Poland. :)

  • @xXxDanPersianxXx
    @xXxDanPersianxXx 4 года назад +8

    "This was kind of fun" - you have to love this guy

  • @CillBinton
    @CillBinton 8 лет назад +20

    Obvious statement, but brilliant guy! The way he answers those questions is straight to the point. Very impressive.

  • @PandamoniumShorts
    @PandamoniumShorts 9 лет назад +3

    Thank you! Been a subscriber for at least a year now, and coming from someone who is not strong in math, has no pull or "draw" to study maths in the future - I have to say this is a very interesting outlet I can spend an hour or so every now and then to absorb this part of life Ill never get to experience.
    So please don't stop! Great channel.

  • @LucretiusEldritch
    @LucretiusEldritch 4 года назад +102

    "Brought in a guy from the code cracking place" 😂😂

    • @orbita1
      @orbita1 4 года назад +8

      I found that quite funny too. So casual.

    • @derekhubbell4854
      @derekhubbell4854 4 года назад +1

      "what was that place? Pri.. Prin.. Prince.. Prince town? aww heck whatever it's called you know the code cracking place"

  • @Paul-yu4ep
    @Paul-yu4ep 4 года назад

    Great talk, I liked how open and thoughtful he was.

  • @sk8erkidMAB8
    @sk8erkidMAB8 9 лет назад +43

    Why is his favorite number seven!?
    These are the kinds of things that keep me up at night!

    • @cesarwinter1379
      @cesarwinter1379 5 лет назад +6

      7 is the only whole number, also biblical.

  • @he1986
    @he1986 9 лет назад +53

    where's the brown paper?

  • @sixhundredandfive7123
    @sixhundredandfive7123 3 года назад

    "I've never looked back that way."
    That helped and hit hard.

  • @dorianphilotheates3769
    @dorianphilotheates3769 5 лет назад +81

    I’m related to Archimedes! He’s my mom’s first cousin, and he runs a souvlaki grill a couple of blocks over from my place.

    • @Sockem1223
      @Sockem1223 4 года назад +5

      Augustus is my Uncle

    • @thewiseofearth
      @thewiseofearth 4 года назад +7

      Actually galileo is my moms sister

    • @phildurre9492
      @phildurre9492 3 года назад

      if you know that everyone has 2 parents 4 grandparents and 8 grandgrandparents and 2^n ancesters of n generations prior, you will realise that you probably are related to anyone living in your region 1000 years ago if he had children;)

  • @Rebasepoiss
    @Rebasepoiss 9 лет назад +5

    Excellent interview, Brady! I loved it.

  • @zibionic9337
    @zibionic9337 7 лет назад +55

    I would believe him if he said: "I am the Architect. I created the Matrix."

  • @sundeeptitanic
    @sundeeptitanic 4 года назад +1

    Really liked the quality of questions you asked him and the way you were attentive in listening to Jim (compared to what I saw just now on TED interview that guy kept cutting Jim & was more worried about his time than listening to him)

  • @majidmohammed3375
    @majidmohammed3375 2 года назад

    Excellent Interview. Kudos to the interviewer - his style and substance is top notch. Thx for uploading!!!

  • @prof.m.ottozeeejcdecs9998
    @prof.m.ottozeeejcdecs9998 6 лет назад +12

    I liked the interview a lot. Mr. Simons is a no BS guy, my kind of man!

  • @Congochicken
    @Congochicken 7 лет назад +89

    "Well this was kinda fun" 😂

  • @rainerbuechse6923
    @rainerbuechse6923 3 года назад +1

    The interviewer did a really great job here, thanks!

  • @tremainereleford7012
    @tremainereleford7012 5 лет назад

    Thank you Sir Mr. James Simons for all your hard work...

  • @DSB42
    @DSB42 9 лет назад +24

    Always love your videos Brady.

  • @AMP09FH
    @AMP09FH 8 лет назад +23

    I live a few houses down from this guy and one of my friends works for him. He's a very nice guy and he helped establish a park and does a lot to help local businesses. Thanks for the great video Numberphile!

  • @michaelleahy3890
    @michaelleahy3890 4 года назад +1

    Just about every month at the Simons Foundation headquarters in NYC there is a free lecture by a scientist or mathematician at the top of their field speaking in depth about cutting edge research. The lecture is preceded by tea. I have met Jim Simons there and he is one of the most down to earth and humble people I have ever come across.

  • @renechavez4753
    @renechavez4753 5 лет назад +5

    interesting man! I enjoy the straight simple discussion and his enthusiasm for mathematics

  • @Fifou001
    @Fifou001 6 лет назад +7

    He really knows stuff we will never ever imagine

  • @gglen2141
    @gglen2141 6 лет назад +8

    Fantastic interview: "7, next question". That's going to keep me up at night.

  • @Will-rn3sy
    @Will-rn3sy 5 лет назад +136

    He looks like Greg Popovich to me

    • @krakenmetzger
      @krakenmetzger 4 года назад +8

      He behaves like one would expect mathematician Greg Popovich to behave. I want to see mathematician Bobby Knight.

  • @CBS197
    @CBS197 5 лет назад

    Great interview. Really enjoyed. Thanks.

  • @venim1103
    @venim1103 9 лет назад +4

    This was a very nice interview! Good job guys! :)

  • @dannnyweeeks
    @dannnyweeeks 9 лет назад +9

    I love how humble he is.

    • @thunderpooch
      @thunderpooch 6 лет назад +2

      Humble? His pulse is about to flat line.

    • @user-qq8tp9cn9p
      @user-qq8tp9cn9p 5 лет назад

      Hey, commie, you don't deserve other peoples money.

    • @pathrender
      @pathrender 5 лет назад

      @@thunderpooch do you have to be young and healthy to be humble dipshit?

  • @gradyford7831
    @gradyford7831 2 года назад +15

    This guy is the dream. Profoundly successful, profoundly self aware. Love the lack of arrogance.

  • @MarkCW
    @MarkCW 2 года назад

    I really enjoyed this interview, thank you.

  • @Daniel7681
    @Daniel7681 9 лет назад +28

    Damn, besides being brilliant he has a pretty relaxed personality as well. Thanks for the upload.

  • @Rdebeauvoir1
    @Rdebeauvoir1 6 лет назад +5

    It is great to become wealthy using your knowledge, but I think it is even more important to show the willing to learn how to be successful just like you Mr. Simons.

  • @PunkMartyr
    @PunkMartyr 2 года назад +5

    Its just so refreshing to see a guy at his level that wanted to be a mathematician and went to MIT. So many of these guys inherited their wealth or leveraged connections and screwed people.

    • @DexterHaven
      @DexterHaven 2 года назад

      How would you like to make 15% per year, every year, even in down markets? Invest with me.

  • @CStuartHardwick
    @CStuartHardwick 9 лет назад +4

    Man. We need more of him.

  • @MrinmoyRoy1990
    @MrinmoyRoy1990 7 лет назад +15

    Great questions! Great answers. Awesome interview! Great job Numberphile!

  • @moniqueharris3257
    @moniqueharris3257 4 года назад +3

    The camera angles kept me laughing and this was a great interview

  • @will4727
    @will4727 4 года назад

    loved this, thanks @numberphile

  • @RedInferno112
    @RedInferno112 9 лет назад +12

    0:28 - that's exactly what I used to do! I usually got up to about 8192 then started to think about what's for dinner.