Meet Thomas Fuller: The Enslaved Mathematician Who Astonished All

"Did you know? 🤔 Thomas Fuller, born in Africa in 1710 and brought to America as a slave, became renowned for his extraordinary mental math skills. Known as the 'Virginia Calculator,' he could perform complex calculations in his head, leaving many in awe. 🧠✨

According to the Math! Science! History website, “Though he never learned to read or write, Fuller could multiply to 9 digit numbers, state the number of seconds in a given time, and calculate the number of grains of corn in a given mass. He had a mathematical brain an incredible ability to carry out mental math.”

For example, when asked how many seconds are in a year and a half, he swiftly answered 47,304,000 in under two minutes! ⏱️

Fuller's story is a powerful reminder of the boundless potential within, regardless of circumstances. Let's honor his legacy and inspire young minds to embrace the wonders of mathematics. 📚👩‍👧‍👦

Did you take the Fuller Challenge? Here are the answers!

🌟 The "Fuller Challenge" 🌟
Problem: If there are 60 seconds in a minute, how many seconds are there in 5 minutes? 🤔⏳

  • A. 200 seconds

  • B. 300 seconds

  • C. 400 seconds

  • D. 600 seconds

💡 Bonus Challenge (for extra brain power!): How many seconds are in half an hour?

This problem encourages quick multiplication and pattern recognition—just like how Fuller calculated time in seconds!

🌟 Fuller Challenge Answer & Explanation 🌟

✅ Answer to the first question: B. 300 seconds
💡 Why? Since there are 60 seconds in a minute, multiply:
60 × 5 = 300 seconds

⏳ Bonus Challenge Answer:
There are 1,800 seconds in half an hour!
💡 Why? There are 60 seconds in a minute and 30 minutes in half an hour, so:
60 × 30 = 1,800 seconds

🔥 Thomas Fuller could do calculations like this in his head! How fast did YOU solve it? 🧠⚡

Check out these sources for more information about the amazing mathematician Thomas Fuller :

Thomas Fuller: The Self Taught Math Genius

Thomas Fuller: America’s African Mathematician

Thomas Fuller: 8 Facts About His Life

Look out next week for more African American STEM Geniuses you should know about!!

#BlackHistoryMonth #YALA #MathGenius #FullerChallenge #STEMFun

YALA Communications