“Infinitely Rich” Mathematician Richard Guy Turns 100
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Re: “Infinitely Rich” Mathematician Richard Guy Turns 100
#2This is a lovely article about the man I know. I've had dinner with Richard several times, meeting him sporadically, and he always seems interested and interesting. A charming man. One of my most treasured possessions is an early copy of "Winning Ways" signed by all three authors.
I wish Richard a very happy birthday, and many more to come.
Re: “Infinitely Rich” Mathematician Richard Guy Turns 100
#3"A lifelong mountain climber and environmentalist, he spent his centenary day hiking at (not up) Mount Assiniboine"
I didn't even think that was possible. The guy's an inspiration.
Re: “Infinitely Rich” Mathematician Richard Guy Turns 100
#4"so Erdős—who sustained himself with espresso and other stimulants"
Paul Hoffman’s biography has Erdős on “10 to 20 milligrams of Benzedrine or Ritalin”
so yea the coffee, it was the coffee.
Re: “Infinitely Rich” Mathematician Richard Guy Turns 100
#5Can anyone lend some background to the story that opens the article and gives it its title?
> [Erdős] said, “Guy, veel you have a coffee?” It cost a dollar, a small fortune to a professor of mathematics at the hinterland University of Calgary who was not much of a coffee drinker …. When they sat with their coffee, [Erdős] said, “Guy, you are eenfeeneeteley reech; lend me 100 dollars.”
> “I was amazed,” recounted Guy. “Not so much at the request but rather at my ability to satisfy it. Once again, Erdős knew me better than I know myself. Ever since then, I’ve realized that I’m infinitely rich: Not just in the material sense that I have everything I need, but infinitely rich in spirit in having mathematics and having known Erdős.”
I don't mean to interpret this too literally, but I don't understand. How can it be that someone has to check his budget for a dollar cup of coffee, but is infinitely rich, in (as he himself says) not just, but at least, the literal sense of having $100 to spare?
(I know that the point is the richness of knowing Erdős, a privilege I missed—my Erdős number is and will probably remain 3—but the non-metaphorical part of the story doesn't make any sense to me. Also, it avoids the question of whether Guy made the loan!)
Re: “Infinitely Rich” Mathematician Richard Guy Turns 100
#6"so Erdős—who sustained himself with espresso and other stimulants" Paul Hoffman’s biography has Erdős on “10 to 20 milligrams of Benzedrine or Ritalin” so yea the coffee, it was the coffee.
He was quoted as saying going without amphetamines for a month set back mathematics a month.
Re: “Infinitely Rich” Mathematician Richard Guy Turns 100
#7"so Erdős—who sustained himself with espresso and other stimulants" Paul Hoffman’s biography has Erdős on “10 to 20 milligrams of Benzedrine or Ritalin” so yea the coffee, it was the coffee.
The story in which this background is embedded is about Erdös and Guy getting a cup of coffee, so it doesn't seem unreasonable, and is entirely factually accurate, to mention first Erdös's reliance on coffee to fuel his inexhaustible mathematical energy, and then to acknowledge other drug abuse.
Re: “Infinitely Rich” Mathematician Richard Guy Turns 100
#8"so Erdős—who sustained himself with espresso and other stimulants" Paul Hoffman’s biography has Erdős on “10 to 20 milligrams of Benzedrine or Ritalin” so yea the coffee, it was the coffee.
He was quoted as saying going without amphetamines for a month set back mathematics a month.
Which he did to win a bet on whether he could go without stimulants for a month.
Re: “Infinitely Rich” Mathematician Richard Guy Turns 100
#9Can anyone lend some background to the story that opens the article and gives it its title? > [Erdős] said, “Guy, veel you have a coffee?” It cost a dollar, a small fortune to a professor of mathematics at the hinterland University of Calgary who was not much of a coffee drinker …. When they sat with their coffee, [Erdős] said, “Guy, you are eenfeeneeteley reech; lend me 100 dollars.” > “I was amazed,” recounted Guy.…
If you take 100 from Infinity it still remains Infinity. So I take the Erdős comment as meaning if you give me $100 your financial situation will not change. Which probably was true.
Re: “Infinitely Rich” Mathematician Richard Guy Turns 100
#10> Richard Guy teaching calculus in Delhi
I couldn't find any other Delhi connection on Google...