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George Polya Biography

George Pólya (/ˈpoʊljə/; Hungarian: Pólya György [ˈpoːjɒ ˈɟørɟ]; December 13, 1887 – September 7, 1985) was a Hungarian mathematician. He was a professor of mathematics from 1914 to 1940 at ETH Zürich and from 1940 to 1953 at Stanford University. He made fundamental contributions to combinatorics, number theory, numerical analysis and probability theory. He is also noted for his work in heuristics and mathematics education. According to György Marx he was one of The Martians.

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George Polya Quotes

A mathematics teacher is a midwife to ideas.

Ideas, Mathematics, Midwife, Teacher

If there is a problem you can't solve, then there is an easier problem you can't solve: find it.

Education, Knowledge, Math, Solve, Easier, Problem

Solving problems is a practical skill like, let us say, swimming. We acquire any practical skill by imitation and practice. Trying to swim, you imitate what other people do with their hands and feet to keep their heads above water, and, finally, you learn to swim by practicing swimming. Trying to solve problems, you have to observe and to imitate what other people do when solving problems, and, finally, you learn to do problems by doing them.

Education, Imitate, Imitation, Math, Solve, Swimming

The open secret of real success is to throw your whole personality into your problem.

Real, Science, Secret, Success, Whole

It is better to solve one problem five different ways, than to solve five problems one way.

Different, Education, Math, Problems, Way, Ways

My method to overcome a difficulty is to go round it.

Difficulty, Method, Overcome, Overcoming, Round

If you wish to learn swimming you have to go into the water and if you wish to become a problem solver you have to solve problems.

Become, Learn, Swimming, Water, Wish

If you cannot solve the proposed problem try to solve first some related problem.

Firsts, Motivational, Proposed, Related, Solve, Trying

A GREAT discovery solves a great problem but there is a grain of discovery in any problem.

Discovery, Education, Knowledge, Math, Problem, Solves

The world is anxious to admire that apex and culmination of modern mathematics: a theorem so perfectly general that no particular application of it is feasible.

Admire, Anxiety, Feasible, Perfectly, Science, World

Geometry is the science of correct reasoning on incorrect figures.

Correct, Education, Figures, Geometry, Math, Reasoning

Quite often, when an idea that could be helpful presents itself, we do not appreciate it, for it is so inconspicuous. The expert has, perhaps, no more ideas than the inexperienced, but appreciates more what he has and uses it better.

Appreciate, Appreciation, Expert, Ideas

John von Neumann was the only student I was ever afraid of.

Afraid, Neumann, Student, Students, Von, Von Neumann

The first rule of discovery is to have brains and good luck. The second rule of discovery is to sit tight and wait till you get a bright idea.

Brains, Good, Good Luck, Math, Science, Sit

I am too good for philosophy and not good enough for physics. Mathematics is in between.

Good, Math, Not Good Enough, Philosophy, Physics

The future mathematician. . . should solve problems, choose the problems which are in his line, meditate upon their solution, and invent new problems. By this means, and by all other means, he should endeavor to make his first important discovery: he should discover his likes and dislikes, his taste, his own line.

Discovery, Likes, Mean, Science, Solve

There was a seminar for advanced students in Zürich that I was teaching and von Neumann was in the class. I came to a certain theorem, and I said it is not proved and it may be difficult. Von Neumann didn't say anything but after five minutes he raised his hand. When I called on him he went to the blackboard and proceeded to write down the proof. After that I was afraid of von Neumann.

Blackboard, Came, Science, Teaching, Von, Writing

The principle is so perfectly general that no particular application of it is possible.

Knowledge, Math, Particular, Perfectly, Principle, Principles

I am intentionally avoiding the standard term which, by the way, did not exist in Euler's time. One of the ugliest outgrowths of the "new math" was the premature introduction of technical terms.

Discovery, Intentionally, Math, Premature, Way

An idea which can be used once is a trick. If it can be used more than once it becomes a method.

Math, Ideas, Used, Becomes, Trick

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