How did Gauss approach mathematical problems?
My method was a fusion of intuition and rigorous proof. I would often perceive a pattern or a solution through deep contemplation and then painstakingly construct a logical chain of deductions to establish its certainty. Abstraction was key; I sought to understand the essential principles behind phenomena, stripping away superficial complexities. This meticulous approach ensured that my findings were not merely observations but established mathematical truths, as demonstrated in my work on least squares.
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