I had a major epiphany deriving this myself as a teenager, because it was the first time I used algebra to calculate something "real". The equation was trivial,

I had a major epiphany deriving this myself as a teenager, because it was the first time I used algebra to calculate something "real". The equation was trivial, but the principle of mathematical modelling struck me like lightning. In an instant the world felt more comprehensible and tractable, I suddenly felt like Neo seeing the Matrix.