You Could Simplify the Way You Speak, You Know

"Really? Xiao Mu taught you high school physics competitions." Professor Ren has students all over the world, and his students' students have surpassed their teachers.

"Teacher Mu taught very well, and I didn't spend any extra effort to win the CPhO gold medal. Oh, by the way, Grandmaster, this physics gold medal of mine is the first among all the gold medals." Shen Qi briefly introduced his small achievements in physics.

"What Patriarch? You are so arrogant. This is a university, not a hall. Call me Teacher Ren." With such a relationship, Professor Ren became a little closer to Shen Qi.

In terms of seniority at Yenching University, Shen Qi and Mu Rong were both Professor Ren's students; they were junior brothers and senior sisters.

Judging from the seniority system at Nangang Second High School, Mu Rong is Shen Qi's teacher, making her a generation above him.

In short, the relationship is confusing. Now, in the context of Yanda University, Shen Qi addresses Professor Ren as "Teacher Ren": "Teacher Ren, I've been very interested in physics since I was a child, otherwise I wouldn't have participated in CPhO. It's a pity that I couldn't participate in IPhO after graduating high school; I'll regret it for the rest of my life."

"Good, good, it's good that you're interested. Interest is the best teacher," Professor Ren said with satisfaction.

"Teacher Ren, how do I obtain a second degree in physics?" Shen Qi asked humbly.

"It's very simple, just complete the required credits for the relevant majors in the Department of Physics," Professor Ren said matter-of-factly.

"But it's very likely that I only have one year left at Yenching University," Shen Qi briefly explained his plan to study abroad.

"Then take a year to complete all the credits," Professor Ren said again.

"Doesn't our School of Physics have a thesis defense system?" Shen Qi asked.

Professor Ren held up two fingers. "Two years."

Two years?

"Undergraduate studies must last at least two years, with an average grade of 90 or above in major courses, to be eligible to apply for a thesis defense. This is the regulation of the School of Physics."

"Oh, I see." Shen Qi thought to himself, "The Big Mathematics Department is really awesome. I passed my Bachelor of Science in Mathematics defense in my freshman year."

The exchange lasted less than ten minutes before the physics class resumed.

Shen Qi pondered that, according to the regulations of the Physics Department, it would be very difficult to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics in just one year.

Even in the second semester of his sophomore year, Shen Qi's average score in physics major courses was above 90, and then summer vacation began.

At the start of my junior year, I will apply for my bachelor's thesis defense in physics. If everything goes smoothly, I will receive my bachelor's degree in physics in the first semester of my junior year.

Graduate school admissions in the United States are generally divided into spring and fall semesters, with spring in January and fall in September.

Therefore, the greatest enemy is time.

If time ran out, Shen Qi would have to give up his second degree in physics; he was a man racing against time.

To earn enough credits for a physics major, the course "University Physics" doesn't count. At Yenching University, physics students don't take "University Physics," just as mathematics students don't take "Advanced Mathematics."

Taking the physics major at the Yanjing University Physics Department of Physics as an example, their required courses include Advanced Mathematics, Linear Algebra, Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Thermodynamics, Foundations of Modern Optics, Mathematical Physics Methods, Electrodynamics, Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics, Modern Quantum Mechanics, Solid State Physics, and so on.

"Instead of having to defend my thesis in my junior year, it's more suitable for me to spend a year completing all the physics credits."

After Professor Ren's University Physics class ended, Shen Qi made a decision.

"Don't push yourself so hard," Ou Ye said with concern. "It's not a big deal to go out a year later."

"Time waits for no one, Ou Ye. We're almost twenty, and we haven't accomplished anything to bring honor to our ancestors. I can't sleep at night, I'm so anxious. Writing a few papers is nothing, they're far from real scientific research results," Shen Qi said, rubbing his forehead, looking worried.

"To make a long story short," Shen Qi said, taking out a notebook containing fragmented mathematical inspirations he had gathered over the past few months.

Organizing these fragmented mathematical inspirations into academic papers is a massive undertaking.

Shen Qi roughly estimated that these inspirations could be integrated and organized into about thirty mathematical papers, and it would take about three years to write them all.

The premise is that I do nothing but write math papers for the next three years.

Shen Qi is capable of independently completing this massive project of mathematical papers. These thirty papers cover many branches such as number theory, real analysis, Riemannian Geometry Real Analysis, Functional Analysis, topology, and Mathematical Physics. If all of them are written, along with the few mathematical papers Shen Qi has published before, they could easily be published as a collection of papers.

With a double degree to pursue, TOEFL and GRE preparations underway, and a focus on Mathematical Physics, Shen Qi felt somewhat exhausted.

"Let's finish as many as we can." Shen Qi and Ou Ye discussed one of their inspirations: the solvability of Diophantine equation.

As is well known, the problem of solving Diophantine equation occupies a very important position in the study of elementary number theory Algebraic Number Theory. For example, the solution of Fermat's problem is a typical example.

However, due to the diverse forms of Diophantine equations, many unsolved problems remain in this area.

"I'll provide the inspiration, you write the paper, OK?" Shen Qi said to Ou Ye.

"OK," Ou Ye replied without hesitation.

"I will try my best to provide you with inspiration in the direction of number theory. You are suited to develop in depth in this branch and specialize in Ou Ye. Even I have temporarily chosen to specialize in Mathematical Physics, after all, a person's energy is limited." Shen Qi was speaking from the heart. When you study any discipline in depth, you will find that you are so insignificant and so incompetent.

Don't be too arrogant. In the 21st century, all-around scientists are a legend. It's more reliable to be down-to-earth and do your best in a small branch first.

Shen Qi's initial intention in pursuing a second degree in physics was to deepen his understanding of the subject and thus seek breakthroughs in the field of Mathematical Physics.

On the Yenching University academic affairs website, Shen Qi found the schedule of all required courses for physics majors from freshman to senior year, including the time of class, classroom, and exam dates.

The next step is the paperwork. Go to the Academic Affairs Office of Yenching University, fill out a form, submit some materials, and prove that you have excellent academic performance in your major and have the capacity to pursue a second degree. That should be enough.

Shen Qi is a registered student in the School of Mathematical Sciences. He is pursuing a second degree in Physics, which is a voluntary act. Nobody cares about him. He can do whatever he wants. As long as he passes the exams, he will get the credits.

School of Physics, Degree Evaluation Committee.

"Teacher, I don't need to take the exams for Advanced Mathematics and Linear Algebra, right?" Shen Qi handed his Bachelor of Mathematics degree certificate to the teacher.

The professor, a staff member of the Physics Department's Degree Evaluation Committee, said, "Advanced Mathematics and Linear Algebra are compulsory courses for physics majors in our department. The credits are irreplaceable, and they are mandatory."

Shen Qi took out five mathematics journals from his bag. They were black, white, yellow, blue, and all sorts of colors, symbolizing the gratifying situation of the vigorous development of mathematics in China.

Shen Qi explained to his teacher, "Teacher, look, I've published math papers in core journals and SCI journals, all in the field of Advanced Algebra, which covers Advanced Mathematics Advanced Algebra Linear Algebra."

"For example, this paper, 'Analysis of Generalized Nonlinear Complementarity Problems Constrained by Linear Inequality,' was published in the national core journal 'Mathematical Herald.' To put it briefly, the main point of my core journal paper is that it uses the generalized Jacobian matrix of a semi-smooth equation system based on a generalized complementarity problem..."

The teacher was exasperated. "No, no, no, I know you're good at math, Shen Qi, but I don't understand these mathematical terms you're using. It's like comparing apples and oranges. Shen Qi, can you please simplify your communication?"

The professor was an administrator in charge of degree review for the School of Physics. He didn't know much about academic professional issues, especially pure mathematics issues.

"Teacher, I'm not here to cause trouble. I really don't think I need to take the tests in Advanced Mathematics and Linear Algebra. Can't I just take the physics major exam directly?" Why was Shen Qi trying to reason with the physics professor? Because the physics department had scheduled the Linear Algebra and optics exams for the same day and time.

Linear Algebra is a first-year course for physics majors, while optics is a second-year course for the same major.

The exam times for the two courses conflicted, which was a problem for a special student like Shen Qi.