Schoolboy 'genius' solves puzzles posed by Sir Isaac Newton that have baffled mathematicians for 350 years

Shouryya Ray put the historical breakthrough down to 'schoolboy naivety'



Modest Shouryya began solving complicated equations as a six year old but says he's no genius

A 16-year-old has managed to crack puzzles which have baffled the world of maths for more than 350 years.

Shouryya Ray has been hailed a genius after working out the problems set by Sir Isaac Newton.



The schoolboy, from Dresden, Germany, solved two fundamental particle dynamics theories which physicists have previously been able to calculate only by using powerful computers.



Boy wonder: Shouryya Ray has been hailed a genius after working out the problems set by Sir Isaac Newton

Brainy: Shouryya Ray cracked puzzles set by Sir Isaac Newton which have baffled mathematicians for more than 350 years

His solutions mean that scientists can now calculate the flight path of a thrown ball and then predict how it will hit and bounce off a wall.



Shouryya only came across the problems during a school trip to Dresden University where professors claimed they were uncrackable.



'I just asked myself, 'Why not?',' explained Shouryya.



'I think it was just schoolboy naivety. I didn't believe there couldn't be a solution,' he added.

Modest Shouryya began solving complicated equations as a six year old but says he's no genius.



'There are other things at school I wish I was better at - football for one,' he said.

For years Shouryya has enjoyed what he calls 'intrinsic beauty' of maths.

When he was young, his father, an engineer, began testing his brain by setting him arithmetic problems.

After arriving from Calcutta four years ago without knowing any German, Shouryya is now fluent in the language.



His intelligence was quickly noted in class and he was pushed up two years in school - he is currently sitting his exams early.

Modestly Shouryya has pointed out he has weak points as a mathematician, and says he is not as competent in sport.