Solving This Math Question Can Make You A Billionaire

Here's an easy way to become a trillionaire- just solve this math question! If you get it right, a banker in Dallas will give you $1 million US dollars! How hard can it be, right?

Matt Damon solves a maths problem in Good Will Hunting (Picture: File)

A stumped billionaire banker is offering a princely sum to anyone who can solve his million dollar maths problem.

Dallas financer Andrew Beal will pay $1million (£650,000) to the genius who can find the solution to a numbers question that has been dogging mathematicians since the 80s.

The American Mathematical Society (AMS) said the huge sum would be awarded for the publication of the answer to the Beal Conjecture number theory problem.

Mr Beal first offered the prize in 1997 for $5,000 (£3,200), with the amount growing substantially over the years.

AMS spokesman Michael Breen says a solution is more difficult than the one for a related problem, Fermat’s Last Theorem, which remained unsolved for hundreds of years.

Beal is a self-taught mathematician and says he wants to inspire young people to pursue math and science.

‘I was inspired by the prize offered for proving Fermat,’ he told NDTV.

‘I’d like to inspire young people to pursue math and science. Increasing the prize is a good way to draw attention to mathematics generally and the Beal Conjecture specifically.

‘I hope many more young people will find themselves drawn into the wonderful world of mathematics.’