http://www.merseyworld.com/precinct/Feb96/prec12.html

Electronic Precinct - February 1996

Mathematical Prodigy

Matthew Trout (left) with Dr Peter Giblin.

Since April 1993, Matthew has been meeting Dr Peter Giblin, of the Department of Pure Mathematics, about once a fortnight throughout the year for informal 'tutorials'. These are not designed to cover Open University work but to enlarge his experience of mathematics through the study of number theory and computing. Matthew works through theoretical exercises and writes Pascal programs to do numerical experimentation. He has also done some graphics computing to vary the subject-matter.

'When I heard about Matthew, through my wife meeting the wife of Matthew's official tutor, Brian Wilby' said Dr Giblin 'I felt that the University should take an interest in his highly unusual talent. We have been running Masterclasses and other activities through Mathematical Education on Merseyside for many years, but this seemed to require a more individual response'.

'In the two and a half years I have been meeting Matthew he has begun to mature mathematically. He has developed a certain amount of judgement as to what is good, either in mathematics or in computer programming, and what is bad, inefficient, or plain wrong. He picks up ideas quickly and is able to use them. I enjoy the meetings and as long as Matthew does too I am most happy (and of course privileged) to continue telling Matthew about the limitless world of Mathematics'.