![kolkata boy shouryya ray solves 350 year old maths problem](https://static.indiatvnews.com/ins-web/images/lazy-big.jpg)
![](http://images.indiatvnews.com/neweditor/Image/2012/mainnational/may/Shourya%20Ray/4.jpg)
Shouryya currently in Dresden has cracked a 350-year-old maths problem set by Sir Isaac Newton.
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.
![](http://images.indiatvnews.com/neweditor/Image/2012/mainnational/may/Shourya%20Ray/1.jpg)
Ray came across the problems during a school trip to Dresden University where professors claimed they were uncrackable. “I just asked myself, Why not?,” says Ray.
![](http://images.indiatvnews.com/neweditor/Image/2012/mainnational/may/Shourya%20Ray/2.jpg)
"I think it was just schoolboy naivety. I didn't believe there couldn't be a solution," he added.
"I didn't believe there couldn't be a solution," he added.
![](http://images.indiatvnews.com/neweditor/Image/2012/mainnational/may/Shourya%20Ray/3.jpg)
"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.
Shouryya has pointed out he has weak points as a mathematician, and says he is not as competent in sport.
![](http://images.indiatvnews.com/neweditor/Image/2012/mainnational/may/Shourya%20Ray/5.jpg)