Einstein failed math
| Einstein failed math | |
|---|---|
| FALSE | |
| "Albert Einstein failed mathematics in school, proving that even geniuses can be poor students." | |
| Domain | History |
| Tactic | Fabrication |
| Era | Historical |
| First seen | 1930s |
| Origin | A 1935 Ripley's Believe It or Not! item and later popular anecdotes, possibly influenced by confusion over the Swiss grading scale and Einstein's failure of part of a university entrance exam |
| Last reviewed | 2026-10-27 |
| Further reading: books on History | |
The claim that Einstein failed math is a popular myth often used to encourage struggling students. Einstein excelled at mathematics from an early age, teaching himself geometry and calculus by about age 15. When shown a Ripley's Believe It or Not! column claiming he had failed math, Einstein reportedly said that he had never failed in mathematics and had mastered differential and integral calculus before he was 15. The myth may have arisen partly because he failed the non-science sections of the entrance exam to the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zurich at age 16, two years younger than most applicants, while doing well in mathematics and physics. Another theory points to a Swiss school's grading scale, in which 6 was the highest mark and 1 the lowest, the reverse of some German systems.
What the evidence shows
- School records. Einstein's records from the cantonal school in Aarau, Switzerland, show top marks of 6 in algebra and geometry.
- Entrance exam. In 1895, Einstein took the entrance exam for the Zurich Polytechnic. He performed very well in mathematics and physics but failed other sections, such as French and chemistry, and completed his secondary education in Aarau before being admitted.
- Einstein's response. In 1935, when shown the Ripley's item, Einstein said he had never failed in mathematics.
- Grading confusion. Some writers have suggested that the reversed grading scale in Aarau led to misreadings of his records.
Why it persists
The myth is reassuring and motivational, suggesting that early failures do not determine later success. Einstein's real experience of struggling with school discipline and rote learning made the story seem plausible.
Lessons for readers
- Inspiring stories can distort facts.
- Check original records, such as report cards.
- Partial truths, such as failing other parts of an exam, can grow into myths.
- Misreading grading systems can create errors.
See also
- Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope
- Humans use only 10 percent of their brains
- Grit is the key to success
Sources
- Walter Isaacson, Einstein: His Life and Universe (Simon & Schuster, 2007).
- Albrecht Fölsing, Albert Einstein: A Biography (Viking, 1997).