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Meet Divya Tyagi, Indian-origin student who solved century-old math problem
Divya Tyagi is currently pursuing a master's degree in aeronautical engineering

Meet Divya Tyagi, Indian-origin student who solved century-old math problem

Mar 20, 2025
03:07 pm

What's the story

In a significant contribution to the field of mathematics, Divya Tyagi, an Indian-origin student recently solved a century-old math problem with significant implications for wind turbine design. Her innovative approach simplified the original complex problem, making it more accessible and practical for application in this area. Tyagi is a master's student in aeronautical engineering at Pennsylvania State University in the US.

Innovation

Tyagi's work opens new avenues in wind turbine design

Tyagi's work has opened new avenues in wind turbine design that British aerodynamicist Hermann Glauert, who initially posed the problem, never considered, CNBCTV18 reported. This significant contribution was part of her college thesis and has been published in Wind Energy Science. Her professor and co-author of the work, Dr. Sven Schmitz, praised her impressive achievement and acknowledged she was the only student among three others to successfully tackle this complex math problem.

Impact

Simplified problem could revolutionize wind turbine design

Dr. Schmitz described Tyagi's simplified approach to the complex problem as an "elegant solution" that could lead to new explorations in wind turbine design. He believes her work will inspire further exploration of new aspects in this field. Schmitz also expressed confidence that her solution will be adopted in classrooms across the globe, highlighting its potential for widespread impact on education and research in aeronautical engineering.

Potential

Tyagi's research could boost wind energy production

In her own words, Tyagi said her research could help reduce costs and produce more wind energy. She noted that even a "1% improvement in power coefficient could notably increase a turbine's energy output, potentially powering an entire neighborhood." This emphasizes the real-world applications of her work in making wind energy resources more efficient and sustainable.