Faster than a calculator | Arthur Benjamin | TEDxOxford
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Benjamin makes numbers dance. In his day job, he's a professor of mathematics at Harvey Mudd College; in his other day job, he's a "Mathemagician," taking the stage to perform high-speed mental calculations, memorisations and other astounding mathematic stunts. It's part of his drive to teach math and mental agility in interesting ways, following in the footsteps of such heroes as Martin Gardner.
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Teacher: Calculators Are Not Allowed Me: *Brings Arthur Benjamin*
*He is a bot*
Lol
Same
Me: *Reads the entirety of his book **_Secrets of Mental Math_* _Ninety-seven squared._ Me: *9409*
😂
i don't even type in the right numbers into my calculator
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
SaMe
Yay! I am like #700!
"C'mon, do math"
i hardly even put in the correct numbers or functions, i’m in accelerated and honors math.
I like how he takes more time saying the answer than he does solving the problem
Underrated COmment Alert
it's me at the school
That's the main trick you calculate it while saying the number so it looks like you've already calculated it.
That's a great observation! I think Arthur Benjamin takes more time saying the answer than he does solving the problem for a few reasons. First, he wants to make sure that he explains the answer clearly and concisely. He doesn't want to just give the answer and leave the audience confused. He wants to help them understand how he got to the answer and why the answer is correct. Second, Benjamin uses his time to entertain the audience. He is a skilled storyteller and communicator, and he enjoys telling stories and jokes to illustrate his points. He also likes to interact with the audience and ask them questions. Third, Benjamin takes his time to inspire the audience. He wants to show them that mathematics is a beautiful and powerful subject. He wants them to see that mathematics can be used to solve real-world problems and to make the world a better place. Overall, I think Arthur Benjamin takes more time saying the answer than he does solving the problem because he wants to explain the answer clearly, entertain the audience, and inspire them. He is a gifted teacher and communicator, and he uses his time to share his love of mathematics with the world. I find his approach to teaching mathematics very refreshing. He is not just interested in teaching students how to solve problems. He also wants to teach them how to think critically and to appreciate the beauty of mathematics. I am grateful for Arthur Benjamin's contributions to the field of mathematics education. He is an inspiration to me and to many other students and teachers.
@damn8633 Nah The impressive part isn't the calculation, honestly It's being able to accurately keep track of how many digits the solution has and properly saying the final answer... I was messing around with speed mental mathematic techniques and they pretty much all work the same way as regular multiplication on paper. As in, when you do the calculation in your head you won't arrive at: "three million two hundred twenty seven thousand six hundred and seventy three"... (3,227,673 for looks) You'd solve it and you'd get something like: "three, seven, six, seven, two, two, three" ...which doesn't matter for calculating, but being able to count all the digits, reverse the order, and then correctly label the number in real-time is pretty damn impressive, honestly. It's called the Trachtenberg method
Arthur Benjamin is one of those Math teachers that can actually make Math interesting and make me want to learn more about it.
Jesus loves you! Remember that He died and rose up again for you to be in heaven with Him! Believe on His name and repent of your sins and be saved! Have an amazing day ❤️😊😊
@@Gg-ij7li what does this have to do with mathematics
@@blueketchup1182 man’s just doing his job leave him be
I learned multiplication when I was very young by watching his Secrets of Mental Math DVDS
@@nilahrios531 I self-learned multiplication when I beat the Addition and Subtraction rockets, and thus moved onto the Multiplication rocket, in first grade. (Only one other person was in multiplication but he would keep writing even after time was called which wasn't allowed, but I digress). Each rocket consisted of 26 math tests, one for each letter, and each test would get slightly harder and you would have to try and finish the problems within the given time to move onto the next letter. After Z, you move to the next rocket.
Teacher: "alright class, put your calculators away" Young Arthur Benjamin: "foolish mortal"
How dare you assume he is a mortal
BMan28 yye no he’s saying the teacher is a mortal, foolish mortal
@ankit dubey more like *FOOLISH MORTAL*
Ray you made my day 😂😂😂😂
I 999 like on your comment.
Me: *Showing this to my mom* My mom: "Why cant you be like him"
hi lowe
Savage
Me: because you made me
You must be Asian
Asian moms are like this
Teacher: Calculators are not allowed in the exam Arthur: *Walks off*
This is not easy. He worked his whole career on it. Made researches and had all those sleepless nights thinking of them. Everything the person puts an effort on, becomes this wholesome.
Plots twist: all the numbers are paid actors
One Piece Trap Remix lol
I thought that
333 likes
Oh thanks i knew that
can’t like this comment as I wanna keep it on 420
Imagine trying to scam this guy by not giving him the right amount of change
WASTED
Underated comment
REST IN PEACE
Radical Clapz 😂😂😂
He would lecture you about not giving him the right change
this is recommended to me 10 years later and he has so much stage presence and he looks so friendly.. i would def like to be taught math by him he makes it so fun
You can't teach that, you either got it or you don't...
@@Kinja_ ? so u either know math or u dont know math.. cool
@@c4ssc4ss. you can’t teach people to be a human calculator…
@@Kinja_ they werent talking about the human calculator part they just said 'math' in their comment
now just imagine how quick he is when he’s not under the pressure of an audience
Meanwhile I'm double checking 6+5 in exams ?
DK THEMAN well, I check even 1+1
11
g0lddenpanda Onety one
i dont kno, are you?
my sister used a calculator just to check if her answer was correct. the question was 3+5.............
Their is no way a calculator is as fast as any human, they dont even have legs.
+James Edward ha good one
+James Edward [groan]
Ba dum tsssss
dad joke of the year
Ba-dum tsssss
I like that he’s just not only like “Oh give me this to multiply by this multiply” then beating the calculator he’s doing square routes and and days of the week and he’s also joking around
someone should calculate the chance of him getting these all right by purely guessing
it would depend on what his range is.
1/0
Look for the biggest number he answered with, and call it N (for a way to get the range). Then count the number of questions, which we can say is Q. Then let P (probability of guessing the numbers) be (1/N)^Q. I know it changes if you stop counting the numbers that he already answered or that he asked for an X digit number and so on, but you would be right in saying that the answer is 0 whatever the case might be.
Teacher: Do you remember the tables? Arthur: *yes* Teacher: Till where? Arthur: *yes*
😂😂😂😂
lame joke
AJAJAJAJAJAJA
Prii Nce then make a better joke
@@THE____KING made me laugh
And here I am using a calculator to multiply 5 and 6.
Daniel Sedlarević It's 30, your welcome xD
***** thank you :)
***** Thanks for being the troll that everyone hates on the internet because they feel the need to correct people over grammar mistakes....
***** you're welcome
Heathco.MD I hate you... Please read the comments above before commenting!
Arthur Benjamin is one of those people that thumbed his nose at the "No Calculator" section of a big exam test. Such a brilliant man, and it's so wonderful to see him giving a performance/educational lecture on something he absolutely loves. :)
Arthur Benjamin while giving math exam: Teacher: Arthur You cannot use calculator during exam Arthur Benjamin: But I don't have it Teacher: Yes you have. Please leave your brain outside
All of the dislikes were calculator manufacturers.
😂😂😂
😂😂😂😂😂😂
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
It's amazing how realistic robots seem now.
😂
+Everett Logan LOL
+Everett Logan lol
+Everett Logan lololololol
+Everett Logan lololololololololol
This man is so friendly and intimidating at the same time
“Let me take this one step further”😂 As if he wasn’t that far yet🚀
"hey dad can you help me with my math homework" *Arthur completes both sides in 10 seconds, despite the homework being one-sided*
Liam Keane lul
Liam Keane but he didn’t show his work
Lol
@@bencasas9269 so he fails 😂
lol if he were to show his work it would be filled with random words like light tomorrow or something like that
Math teacher: as you can see, 2 x 2 is four. There will be a quiz tomorrow on this subject The quiz:
Underated
A professional math test for me (used brain) 82 x 4 = 328 15 x 15 = 225 34 x 5 = 170 88 x 3 = 284 (not sure if this is right or wrong) 444 x 2 = 888
@@Aiden-vg4xs 264
@@Aiden-vg4xs An easy way for the one you got wrong would be doing 90 X 3 - 6 You take away the six for the added 6 you put on the 90
Cube root of 10000x(20-4)/6 =57.4515917
plot twist: he has calculators in his eyes and every time he closes his eyes he calculates with his eyelid calculators
Even if you know the tricks you still need an amazing mind to store and access the steps.
Considering how difficult it actually is to implement them as fast and as accurate as he is I wouldn't even call them tricks, honestly It's objectively harder to learn this style of metal math lol It's just way faster once it's rote-memorization
this guy swallowed a scientific calculator
Almiq Quick there's no such thing as a scientific calculator
Almiq Quick and a calendar
not just 1
he just eating each for breakfast
His breakfast is a calculator sandwich :)
* At exam * Question: what's 6+2? Me: "Let me count that in calculator in case I get it wrong"
So true
+Irun Mon The answer is 62.
+Mike Fuller no it's 26 obviously
+LSPD no it's 69
+Kirisute Gomen no it's 84. Jeez
He’s waited his whole life to show off this skill.
2:54 him solving correctly also him: give them a big round of applause 😂😂
Teacher: NO CALCULATORS KIDS Arthur: Aight looks like I can leave
watch my maths tricks to learn...
Ayeee
fun with maths can u not self promote-
ha ha ha ha...
@@anymaths I subbed to you!
Calculator: *exists* Arthur: imma end this mans whole career
Insert spongebob image (sitting on his chair)
Rieko Alexander Rosales Ight Ima head out
@@camoffthewall9469 Yes yes
Marlon de anda this things*
Did you just assume the calculators gender?
"I never make mistakes!" Most movitating sentence lol
Teacher giving instructions: Ok Cla- Him: Done.
Teacher: Calculators aren't allowed to this exam Me: Is Arthur fair game then?
Laura Maria Ik it’s like he’s cheating he’s so smart
@@ChristianNimey exactly
Lol
Christian Nimey its not cheating, he deserved it because he studied a lot. It’s not like he just got it out of nowhere (except maybe some of your genes made you have an advantage)
Captain Kencel you have been r/wooooshed
Asian parents: *_Congratulations, you've done the tutorial_*
This comment is underrated
Lmao
oooooh haha
Hey I know you comment in minecraft royal meme post
Achievement unlocked: You are now permitted to practice violin for the rest of the evening.
The last part was most entertaining! Seeing what method he uses and how he thinks about the problem! Really cool!
Seeing he needing to think for once is like watching someone use their brain to 100%
The crazy part is that the thought wasn't even for the solution, he was just trying to say the number accurately🤣
when you actually pay attention in math class
Too bad math has evolved into shit you'll never use
A Cat 😂😂😂😂😂
A Cat Math is the language of worlds. It is life. Always useful.
By "evolve" I mean that they teach us years of algebra, geometry and calculus even though the career your going for doesn't revolve around any of that. I understand that everyone should know the basics of math but don't force people to learn beyond, that's why students do shit in algebra or geometry cause it's damn useless to them.
that is so true
flamingo
unratted comment
*Faster than a calculator
What about a scientific calculator
Don't know why but this comment made my day. So funny 😂🤣
A Calculator, Weather App and Calendar
This is something which I have never experienced or witnessed in my life! Dear Arthur Benjamin sir, you are a multi-talented person. You are really faster than an advanced calculator. May god bless you!
Especially given that he achieved this skill through practice! There are people who are faster though, there is an incredible Savant out there.
I first saw this guy on The Great Courses, he did a course on the mathematics of games and puzzles. The topics he covered was great. He introduced so many advanced math concepts, all while talking about poker, Rubik’s cubes, and chess. He’s great.
That chalk didn’t deserve to be assaulted like that
😭😭
What if i told you they were paid actors?
Ghostwalker CIA *surprised pikachu face*
Jazmin Lopez lmao
Lmao
I need this man in my backpack.
TheVirtualBanana haha that funny
TheVirtualBanana you cant shoot up the school with a calculator
TheVirtualBanana im sure he'll fit in there
TheVirtualBanana me too
TheVirtualBanana I need 10 for everywhere I'll go
Plot twist: He just knows every number squared
It’s a very simple strategy that I use as well. As soon as he’s given the first number he calculates all possible answers so that he knows them before they even say the second number
But he can do it probably better than you
I mean, like, can you do that in the span of 30 seconds or so? Not judging, just saying, well, he's practically a next generation calculator.
@@Alexander-km2jo sorry if I didn’t make it obvious, but it was a joke because it’s impossible to calculate the thousands of different possible numbers in the short span he’s given
@@YourMom-wi5to oh ok haha
@@YourMom-wi5to Who knows? The brain is not very well understood. It couls be that the theoretical maximum "calculation speed" is actually much faster.
no one: Benjamin: deletes calculator app from his children's phones
i bet they have his contact saved as Calculator
@@Sahnie-E lmaoo xDD
btw wtf I didn't know I ever got much likes! thanks everyone! thanks @@Sahnie-E for bringing me here
Aaaaahhhh yes. A man of one punch
Well now look at your likes now
The calculators deserve a round of applause for calculating as fast as him.
LOL! That's absolutely what came into my mind also at once!
😆
No he should get a round of applause
@@Antoine_Cloutier r/woooosh
Omg I can’t believe my self
“Do you believe that” Me on my test : absolutely not
Recommended has brought us together. See you in another 6 years
Josh Hall I’ll comment something 6 years from this day in 10/02/25
That's a thursday
See you in another life
Halo theme song plays in background
this was 6 days ago
Dont say "calculator has left the chat" Because it never joined
calculator has left the chat
Kevin 01 you madlad
@@_thebigpig_5769 😂🤣
@@kevinctb9243 😂😂😂😂🤣
Arthur is the calculator
After reading his(and his friend's) book I've finally get in understanding how is he doing that, and even tried to do these tricks myself, trying to square 6 digit number in my head(I've succeeded after 2nd go and it took me 15 minutes) but I still cannot match his speed, this is freakishly fast, I guess this is something that you achieve after couple of years of intense practice and passion
teacher guy: alright, today, im allowing the use of calculators this guy: oh thank god, i thought i was gonna have to rip out my brain
...and i even confirm 10+10 on a calculator during an exam
Lol noob everybody knows it's 100.
+0mar Ahmed u suck its 1010
+Shark go learn math scrub
+0mar Ahmed bitch it is 1010 go to kindergarten
+Shark noobs it obviously 1,478,958
He's faster than my wifi
same
The dumbest human is faster than my wifi
Honestly, Everything is faster than my wifi
hahha same
My WiFi is slower than my WiFi
I love how you could hear his excitement at the end :-)
I hope I had this teacher in my primary school! I would love mathematics! Great practice and amazing teaching !
This man: Exist Asian: Finally a worthy opponent.
Ay armyyyy
I'm asian.. I'm the best guy at mathematics in my class.
@@yoits_hayhay6466 ayyy
@@closier2 oh that's cool i am asian too lol
10 subs no videos? Same I’m the best in my class at mathematics
Teacher: what's 12 x 12 Me: 144 *instantly answers* During an exam Question: what is 6+1 Me: *Takes out calculator to check if my answer is right or not*
Luna लूना ME
6969 subscribers without any friends thats so me lol
6969 subscribers without any friends me when my another teacher was asking multiplication questions “12x12 and 13 x 13”
You got me lmao
I got everthing on a math test right but 6 x 3
A truly marvelous performance! I really like Arthur Benjamin now, and his true display of calculating talent and skill. I appreciated the inclusion of humor in his performance, too! Lovely!
Most impressive! A highly gifted man.
"Does anyone have a calculator?" *no one comes up* "Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk!"
LMAO
he probably had people in the audience to help him just in case nobody has it
Bruh🤦♂️😂😂
Well people brought phones
Lol
He's not faster than calculator. He's faster than a guy using a calculator
Well not really... Some people can type fast :3 And how about the last one?
agree
i agree
you get the point
ABZ7ZZ Yes, but he's still REALLY smart!
I haven’t watched this in a while...I absolutely love this!
Absolutely incredible!
4.9 thousand dislikes are from calculator companies
And teachers, because he didn't show his work.
Haha ur right
ha ha ha
Lmao
lol
Who came here because of Vaibhav Kadnar Video 😊❤
Me
Me
This reminds me of when I was little and I have my dad random math questions that he somehow knew the answers to everyone of them. Great memories
yeah hes doing this i'm still looking for the fucking square root button on my calculator >.>
+ProGamerz99 ____ '\/
+ItsMane No it's not, its √
that's the square root button.
+hentai nat or just put to the power of 1/2 (x+∆)^1/2
+11austin3100 i like your profile pic
calculator companies hate him
LEARN HOW 3 SECRETS (NOT CLICKBAIT)
David Albright just be smart
I feel like this comment deserves to be more appreciated
Lo
This comment deserves more appreciation.
Can you imagine how many girls called him in college because they “needed” help with their homework.
The verbalisation of his mental process is CRAZY!
Kids bully others for being less good at something than them... *THIS GUY BULLIED CALCULATORS AND TEXTBOOKS*
That is a fact
@@akakgaming7652 omg I just realised that I got 221 likes! *THIS IS THE MOST LIKES THAT I HAVE EVER GOT!*
*YOU HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR BULLYING CALCULATORS AND TEXTBOOKS*
Comment 666. Whoah!!!
Yasss
RIP this guys chalk
Ikr lol
More than brilliant. Hats off to him .Would be rare to find someone like him today…everyone rushing to make quick money.
"Let me try to take this _one step further_ ..." "I'm gonna find the cube root of any number with a hundred digits!"
Someone went to college 😂
when I can barley square a normal number
"barley" I now have a new alternate adverb for barely
*barely
BeerLeagueDust I love barley
BeerLeagueDust when you can barely spell a simple word xD
his name has "Beer" in it, barley is only fitting
He makes me wanna mark my teacher absent
So I was the 666 person to like the comment
Lol
Marvelous, hilarious too! "That was my daughter! " Best educational video I've ever seen, congrats!
I love how we can actually see that Arthur Benjamin is enjoying it
I bet his daughter gets straight A's in math.
#rekt
AHAHAHAHH
She'd better, imagine the disappointment!
and she will know your minds before you tell it to her
GlaxY Slaps #All boys getting triggered of u assuming the mans baby's gender lol JK
Josh had 150 chocolate bars. He ate 142. What does he have now? DIABETES
+Someone_Unknown - Gaming & More Real funny and original.
+Someone_Unknown - Gaming & More  Josh has Diabetes... & rotten teeth
+Someone_Unknown - Gaming & More diabetes
+Someone_Unknown - Gaming & More wow its funny m8...
+Someone_Unknown - Gaming & More Bet he couldn't calculate THAT! Am I right?
2:54 him solving correctly also him: give them a big round of applause
Manager: Benjamin's requested a tax-return Tax collector: Oh ffs
Teacher: "you won't always have a calculator on you" Arthur Benjamin: Literally becomes a calculator Teacher:oh ok
Then smartphones became a mainstream thing and the teacher was wrong
Jonathan N. Ok boomer
@@liammcdonald441 do you even understand what they said?
Lol
@@liammcdonald441 OK moron
Calculators disliked this video.
Kushal Rijal underrated
You talk as if you are superior than him. Where's your video to show that ?!! If you are all loud mouth, you are just another moron!
@@voyeureauxmax5552 ?
hahahaha deep thought
@@voyeureauxmax5552 Are you OK?
This is amazing. Brilliant. I wish I could do the same.
Glad to see Arthurs represent!
I hope he had lots of kids for the sake of humanity.
He’s banged more people than you can multiple on the calculator because the digits are too many
He has calculator children
😂
nerds can't have kids
What if he is still a vergen
I bet this guy ate calculators for breakfast
😂😂😂😂😂😂
Very funny 😂😂😂😂😂
Edilaine Candida I ate some Calculators for breakfast...... Without any milk.
Edilaine Candida WTF 11 Million subscribers how?
Calculator crunchies
KZhead: you'll like this video from 8 years ago Me: well you're not wrong
What this poor man doesn't realise is that those nice rounds of applause are for him. Hats off!
*Real footage of The Joker before he lost his mind* (1983) Colorized
ehhh
Oh no, genius comment
It would be colorized anyway. Color on TVs came out in the late 60's
LmFAo
@@creativebigmac Tha-tha-tha- That's the joke
2 plus 2 is 4 minus 1 that's 3 quick maths
get out the 4 door with a 44 equals one two three that's four, your dad is 44
*Q U I C K M A T H S*
Every day mans on the block S M O K E T R E E S
A triangle has three sides aluminate confirmed
Aalto 24 x 13 = 156. It aint right but it was quick
I’ve watched this video so many times and I love it more each time
Dude had help from like 4 personalities in his head. Taking rafts and waiting till tomorrow. No cheating!! Also super impressive, we should exchange notes.
*Top 10 Rappers Eminem Was Too Afraid To Diss*
This comment made my day!
I love your username !!
This comment Is completely irrelevant to the video
Samuel The German Cat of Legend There’s a method for these calculations.
ohmygaaadddtt! 😂
Arthur Benjamin : cures cancer Nobody: Arthur Benjamin : *LET ME TRY TO TAKE THIS ONE STEP FURTHER*
Arthur Benjamin: Makes Cancer Instead
Arthur Benjamin : *let's make cancer dangerous to even aliens*
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭stop
No one can get cancer if everyone's dead in the first place
@@kakokapolei123 arthur: *now let's go genocide*