The pair’s theorem could pave the way for interstellar travel (Picture: Ivan Zelch via Daily Mail)

Two teenagers have created a mathematical theorem that could help pave the way for interstellar travel.

Xuming Liang and Ivan Zelich, both 17, corresponded through an online maths forum when they realised they were both working on the same problem.

It is now said the result of their collaboration may change the face of mathematics forever.

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Ivan Zelich is a polyglot, a state champion swimmer, a chess champion and a maths prodigy (Picture: Ivan Zelich)

Not bad for a couple of high schoolers.

Xuming, who is originally from Guangzhou in China but now lives in San Diego and Ivan, from Australia, told MailOnline they spoke though Google chat and Facebook and worked in ‘shifts’ – when one went to sleep, the other took over.



‘Since our time zones don’t concur, one of us tend to stay up really late to complement the other,’ Xuming said.

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Xuming Liang was born in China but now lives in San Diego (Picture: Xuming Liang)

‘He was the only person I could find who I connected with mathematically,’ Zelich added.

‘I found out we were both working on the same problem at the same time but he was more geared towards one side of the geometry and I was more geared towards the algebraic and string theory side.’

Zelich said the main application of their calculations was ‘understanding the structures of the universe.’

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‘The theorem will contribute to our understanding of intergalactic travel because string theory predicts existence shortcuts in space, or so-called “wormholes” to cut through space.’

‘It also helps finding minimal possible math between certain planets based on their structure,’ he said.

Zelich said that school was restrictive and he didn’t have the time to chase the top grades due to the effort he was spending on his at-home research. He was offered a university scholarship aged 14 but turned it down. He speaks six languages, has completed his piano diploma and has represented Queensland in chess at the Nationals.

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The pair’s paper was published in the International Journal of Geometry (Picture: IJG)

He is also a state champion swimmer.

Xuming said that he was ‘mediocre’ in all subjects except maths and had tutored university students over the summer.

A paper on the pair’s theorem entitled ‘Generalisations of the Neuberg cubic to the Euler pencil of isopivotal cubics’ was published in the International Journal of Geometry. The teenagers are the youngest ever contributors to the journal.

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