An Indian-origin student at Pennsylvania State University in the US has solved a century-old Math problem. Divya Tyagi, who is currently pursuing a master's degree in aeronautical engineering, redesigned the problem into a simpler and more straightforward format so that it's easier to use.
Her contribution is significant as it opened up new avenues in wind turbine design that even the original author and British aerodynamicist, Hermann Glauert, did not consider, CNBCTV18 reported. Tyagi began to work on the problem for her college thesis and her findings were published in Wind Energy Science.
Tyagi said that her study would help in reducing costs and increasing wind energy production. CNBCTV18 quoted her as saying that even a “one percent improvement in power coefficient could notably increase a turbine’s energy output, potentially powering an entire neighbourhood.”
Indian student Divya Tyagi at Penn State University has cracked a 100-year-old math problem, which will enable higher efficiency in wind turbines. pic.twitter.com/YtkJXZkmtp
Hindutva Knight (@HPhobiaWatch) March 18, 2025
Speaking about her breakthrough, her aerospace engineering professor and co-author of the work, Dr Sven Schmitz, said he found the Glauert problem had “steps were missing and it was very complicated.”
“That’s when Divya came in,” he told the publication. The professor revealed that three other students had attempted the Math problem before Tyagi but “she was the only one who took it on". "Her work is truly impressive,” Schmitz said. He added that since Tyagi simplified the problem, people will be able to explore new aspects of wind turbine design. Terming it an "elegant solution," professor Schmitz said it would find its way into the classrooms, across the country and around the world.
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