In the last 14 years, Yap Wen Min, 19, has won over 1,000 trophies in Mathematics, Science, debating and public speaking competitions, both locally and internationally.

Recently, the Kuala Lumpur-based teenager reached another milestone by entering the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) for being the Fastest to Solve 50 Digits Multiplication in 24.61 seconds.

For this feat, she did a mathematical operation of multiplying two numbers, each of which has 50 digits, without a calculator.

Yap said gaining entry into the MBR has been one of the achievements she has aimed for 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, KL.

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 Aug 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.

For those who dislike Maths, Yap suggests viewing it as a puzzle or pattern rather than just a requirement for grades and exams.

“By doing so, it can help us to understand the things happening around us much better. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help when something does not make sense. As you try more and make more mistakes, we will be able to find the logic behind it or a method that suits us the most.

“Try to find the connections between Maths and the things you love. No matter if you are into sports, music or art, there is Maths behind it all. Once we see how Maths applies to our interests, it might start to feel more fun and less like a chore.”