For context, 42 was the only remaining number below 100 where it wasn’t known if this was possible. The general problem of exactly which numbers are the sum of three cubes is unsolved.
42 is found to be the sum of three cubes
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Re: 42 is found to be the sum of three cubes
#22I must be missing something. Why is this significant?
Same question. People seem to be researching that kind of stuff (numbers that are sums of 3 cubes). Why?
Re: 42 is found to be the sum of three cubes
#23Could someone elaborate on why this is interesting? The linked page doesn't have much context.
33 and 42 are well known as some of the most important numbers in all of mathematics, transcending multiple fields.
Re: 42 is found to be the sum of three cubes
#24Could someone elaborate on why this is interesting? The linked page doesn't have much context.
It was the smallest number for which we didn't have an answer. A few months ago it was 33 (https://www.quantamagazine.org/sum-of-three-cubes-problem-so...), and it seems it's now 114 (https://twitter.com/robinhouston/status/1169878224416829442)
Re: 42 is found to be the sum of three cubes
#25In Python
>>> (-80538738812075974)**3 + 80435758145817515**3 + 12602123297335631**3
42Re: 42 is found to be the sum of three cubes
#26document.body.innerHTML = document.body.innerHTML.replace("<!--", "");
Thanks, but why tho
Re: 42 is found to be the sum of three cubes
#27Yeah but now, what? What was learned from this? Why did we look for a solution in the first place? How is it important that a number can be a sum of three cubes?
Re: 42 is found to be the sum of three cubes
#28I must be missing something. Why is this significant?
Because of the deep existential meaning of 42, which transcends any known religion or ideology. Its significant is only comparable, though not eclipsed, by the utility of a good towel. Never leave home with one.
Re: 42 is found to be the sum of three cubes
#29See also https://twitter.com/robinhouston/status/1169877007045296128 . I was prompted the twitter link has been submitted but wasn't able to find it. Edit: And apologies for using unicode ㊷ in the title, the ascii 42 was removed from the title after initial submission.
How about "Forty-two"?
Interesting, I didn't even think of changing to "Forty-two".
Re: 42 is found to be the sum of three cubes
#30Yeah but now, what? What was learned from this? Why did we look for a solution in the first place? How is it important that a number can be a sum of three cubes?
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