At just 11 years old, Rafael Kessler Ferreira from Brasilia has already accomplished feats that many adults can only dream of. He created his own formula, which was verified by professors at the University of Brasilia (UnB) and registered with the notary public office. This feat earned the boy a motion for recognition at the Chamber of Federal District Legislature (CLDF) and the affectionate nickname “Little Genius.”
This equation, named Kessler’s formula — ((x² + x) + (y² + y)) – (y – x)² — was born out of a moment of pure curiosity. Rafael said he came up with the idea while solving problems for the Brazilian Mathematics Olympiad (OBMEP). The formula “helps solve counting problems involving square grids made of toothpicks,” he explains, and can turn previously time-consuming calculations into direct and accurate results.
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Alarmed by her son’s reasoning, the mother sought out mathematics professor August Hung, who verified the calculations and took the matter to UN B. There, teachers Igor dos Santos Lima and Rui Seimetz held a two-hour hearing on Rafael. The boy explained his logic step by step and convinced the experts.
“Thinking differently and finding creative solutions at this age clearly has the hallmarks of genius. It’s amazing and inspiring,” Professor Igor said.
At the memorial service at CLDF, Rafael emotionally expressed his gratitude to him. “This is just the beginning. I want to continue learning more and evolving.”
According to his family, the boy’s precocious talent emerged early, with a fascination with numbers and an ability to perform complex calculations with ease. The challenge now is to keep up the pace and ensure talent turns into opportunity.
With Kessler’s formula, Raphael not only solved mathematical problems, but also showed that the sparks of genius can appear long before a diploma is obtained.
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