Dubai: 14-Year-Old 'Human Calculator' Breaks 6 World Records In One Day

For Aaryan Shukla, numbers are second nature. The 14-year-old math prodigy, known as the 'human calculator,' recently set six Guinness World Records in Dubai recently, showcasing his lightning-fast mental calculation skills.

Aaryan, a ninth-grade student at Delhi Public School in Nashik, India has been sharpening his abilities since the age of six. With two to three hours of daily practice, he has become a two-time champion of the Mental Calculation World Cup (MCWC) and a six-time Guinness World Record holder.

The records he shattered in Dubai are:

• Fastest time to mentally add 100 four-digit numbers – 30.9 seconds

• Fastest time to mentally add 200 four-digit numbers – 1 minute 9.68 seconds

• Fastest time to mentally add 50 five-digit numbers – 18.71 seconds

• Fastest time to mentally divide a 20-digit number by a 10-digit number (set of 10) – 5 minutes 42 seconds

• Fastest time to mentally multiply two five-digit numbers (set of 10) – 51.69 seconds

• Fastest time to mentally multiply two eight-digit numbers (set of 10) – 2 minutes 35.41 seconds

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Aaryan's fascination with numbers started early, leading him to international competitions. His first major victory came in 2022 at the Turkey Championship, where he won seven gold, one silver, and two bronze medals. He went on to claim the Junior Mental Calculation Gold Medal in 2020 and won the Mind Sports Olympiad World Mental Calculation Championship in 2021. In 2022 and in 2024 in London, he conquered the Mental Calculation World Cup, a competition regarded as the 'Mount Everest' of mental math.

Competing against participants of all ages, Aaryan has consistently outperformed the best. His abilities span across addition, multiplication, square root extractions, and even calendar date calculations.

“Numbers appear in my mind like flashes. I visualise them, store them for a fraction of a second, and move on to the next calculation. The process is so fast, it's hard to explain,” said Aaryan.

Aaryan's talent is a combination of rigorous practice, focus, and advanced calculation strategies. He employs mental techniques like the abacus method, rapid visualisation, and pattern recognition to arrive at answers almost instantly.

Aaryan spends hours refining his skills, balancing training with relaxation through yoga, meditation, and hobbies like cricket and reading.

“Consistency is key. Even a slight lapse in focus can make a difference. I ensure I get enough rest and engage in activities that keep my mind sharp," he said.

Despite his speed in mental math, Aaryan says he takes as much time as his peers in traditional math exams.“In mental calculation, speed matters. But in exams, I have to show each step, so it takes the same time as everyone else.”

Aaryan's parents, both business owners in India, have supported his journey from the beginning.“We recognised his talent early on and encouraged him to pursue it. Seeing him succeed at such a young age fills us with pride,” said Aaryan's father.

With his sights set on the future, Aaryan hopes to promote mental calculation skills globally and inspire young minds to embrace math. He plans to pursue a career in mathematics or aerospace engineering.

“I want to show people the fun in numbers. My goal is to encourage others to challenge themselves in this field,” he said.

Reflecting on his experience in Dubai, Aaryan said:“Dubai is a fantastic city. Participating in the Guinness World Record event here was an incredible experience. I also got to visit the Burj Khalifa and go on a desert safari, which was amazing.”

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