ANN/THE STAR – Over the past 14 years, 19-year-old Yap Wen Min has amassed over 1,000 trophies in mathematics, science, debating, and public speaking competitions, both locally and internationally.
Recently, the Malaysian teen achieved a new milestone by entering the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) as the Fastest to Solve 50-Digit Multiplication in 24.61 seconds. She accomplished this feat by multiplying two 50-digit numbers without using a calculator. Yap shared that earning a spot in the MBR has been a goal she has pursued for years.
“What excites me the most is not the recognition itself, but the personal growth and transformation that led to it. As I focused on improving my mentality and honing my skills, my entry into MBR became a natural outcome.
“This experience has been fulfilling for me due to the invaluable lessons – which are not typically found in textbooks – that the journey taught me,” said Yap during an interview in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.
Yap, who has just finished her foundation studies, is currently on her gap year before she continues her degree in economics. She completed the MBR feat in April.
Performing a 50-digit multiplication is challenging and requires advanced mathematical and mental calculation skills due to the sheer number of digits involved.
“To solve this, I used various techniques, such as breaking down the problem into smaller, more manageable parts, and applying different mental strategies from several experiences.
I put myself in different competitive settings, and my main aim is not to win but to learn from experiences. “Therefore, by effectively combining all the resources and experiences we have, with the right direction and right mindset, these experiences, these achievements and failures will be just like a book that makes us grow and improve towards the area we are focusing in,” said Yap, who has been attending maths lessons at various tuition centres and with different tutors since she was six.
Yap said the biggest challenges she faced in achieving this feat were managing her time and dealing with mental strain.
“My focus is not only to break the national record, but also to balance my schoolwork and take on leadership positions and join tournaments such as debates, nationally and internationally.
“However, it was in these difficulties that I discovered a stronger version of myself.
Throughout this journey, I’ve been fortunate to have the support of my mentors who have guided me, challenged me and encouraged me to keep pushing my limits,” explained Yap, who practises maths up to six hours each day.
Yap, who is also a mentor for Teach for Malaysia, says it has been an incredible journey, and she is very thrilled with how far she has come.
“It’s not just the achievement itself, but about everything I’ve learnt along the way.
“I feel fulfilled knowing that every step of this journey has improved my skills holistically, which contributed to my personal and professional development.
“I’m eagerly looking forward to the next adventure, solving the next complex challenge and seeing how far I can contribute,” said Yap, who emerged best international speaker at the 2024 Indonesia Youth Foundation’s Role of Youth in ASEAN online forum.
LOVE FOR NUMBERS
Yap, the younger of two siblings, is drawn to maths because she feels that numbers are one of the most reliable tools to uncover truths and validate ideas.
“As someone who is passionate about economics, I am fascinated by how maths helps to analyse and solve real-world problems. Economics, unlike other subjects, is not a fixed and static subject. Its theories change from time to time, which requires a lot of debates and analytical skills.”
Yap has attained many other achievements including the gold award in China’s ShenMo Cup International Mathematical Arithmetic Olympiad 2023 and silver award in Thailand’s International Mathematical Olympiad 2022.
On August 22, she won the silver medal (Upper Secondary category) in the Kijang Economics competition, a national event that tests students on entrepreneurship, financial literacy and business.
