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New page: Zerah Colburn (1804-1839) was a child prodigy possessing phenomenal skills at mathematics, particularly in doing complex calculations swiftly in his mind. For example, when asked whet...

Zerah Colburn (1804-1839) was a child prodigy possessing phenomenal skills at [[mathematics]], particularly in doing complex calculations swiftly in his mind. For example, when asked whether the number 4292967297 was a [[prime number]], Colburn replied after doing a brief mental calculation that it was not because it had the divisor 641.<ref>E.T. Bell, "Men of Mathematics" 66 (1937).</ref>

Attracting attention, Colburn was sent to school at the Westminster School in London, where he met and inspired a young [[William Hamilton]] to become the greatest [[mathematician]] and scientist in the history of [[Ireland]].<ref>''Ibid.'' at 342-43.</ref>

Colburn seemed to lose his remarkable skills as he grew older, and he did not contribute anything theoretical or lasting to the field of [[mathematics]]. He attributed his skills to a tremendous memory.

== References ==

<references/>

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