Last Sunday , the “mathematics wizard” Shakuntala Devi passed away in Bangalore , India . She was 83 years old , and experts agree that her death was caused by heart and respiratory problems .
During her lifetime, Shakuntala Devi had deservedly earned the title of “human computer” since she was able to perform astonishingly fast calculations.
According to the Inquisitr , Shakuntala Devi began using her amazing math skills to earn money for her very poor family. She was forced to drop out of school and work on the street, showcasing her magical abilities .
Circus performances followed and soon , this young magician was invited to appear on two television and radio shows .
“I had become the sole provider for my family , and I had a huge responsibility , too much for a young child . At the age of 6 , I gave my first big performance at the University of Mysore , and that was the beginning of my marathon of public performances , ” Shakuntala Devi recounted .
Shakuntala Devi could multiply a 13 - digit number in just 28 seconds, or find the cube root of a multi-digit number in fractions of a second .
When given a date from the last century, Shakuntala Devi could easily tell exactly what day of the week.
