Most people’s experiences with polynomial equations don’t extend much further than high school algebra and the quadratic formula. For centuries, mathematicians accepted this as simply an inherent challenge to their work, but not Norman Wildberger. Norman Wildberger’s mathematical work rejects concepts like irrational numbers. Mathematicians have since developed approximate solutions, but they require integrating concepts like irrational numbers into the classical formula. “[I don’t] believe in irrational numbers,” he said.