Math Genius Solves 100 Year Old Problem

#1

Post by agnesberthelot » Tue, May 03, 2011, 4:45 PM UTC

Math Genius Solves 100 Year Old Problem
techland.time.com

Re: Math Genius Solves 100 Year Old Problem

#2

Post by daimyoyo » Tue, May 03, 2011, 5:32 PM UTC

While I can applaud the purity of his dedication to mathematical research, if I were him, I'd take the money. How often will math make you a million dollars?

Re: Math Genius Solves 100 Year Old Problem

#3

Post by shasta » Tue, May 03, 2011, 5:44 PM UTC

daimyoyo wrote: post #2

While I can applaud the purity of his dedication to mathematical research, if I were him, I'd take the money. How often will math make you a million dollars?

Thank you for coming forward. It's so rare these days to run into someone who would accept a million dollars.

Re: Math Genius Solves 100 Year Old Problem

#4

Post by schmittz » Tue, May 03, 2011, 5:44 PM UTC

This article is too short to display the intricacies of what happened. For people more interested in the exact reason why he didn't accept the millennium prize from the Clay Institute and the nature of his proof to some slightly more rigorous mention (although the full proof is readily available on arXiv), please read this phenomenal piece written by The New Yorker in 2006, found here: http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/08/28/060828fa_fact2

Re: Math Genius Solves 100 Year Old Problem

#5

Post by neanderdog » Tue, May 03, 2011, 5:49 PM UTC

class in a world bereft

Re: Math Genius Solves 100 Year Old Problem

#6

Post by rmason » Tue, May 03, 2011, 5:50 PM UTC

I found this guy’s story inspirational. To me the story isn’t him not taking the million dollars but that he channeled Jesus to solve the problem.

Re: Math Genius Solves 100 Year Old Problem

#7

Post by esrauch » Tue, May 03, 2011, 5:50 PM UTC

It would have been far more interesting if a Math Dunce had solved it.

Re: Math Genius Solves 100 Year Old Problem

#8

Post by agnesberthelot » Tue, May 03, 2011, 6:13 PM UTC

daimyoyo wrote: post #2

While I can applaud the purity of his dedication to mathematical research, if I were him, I'd take the money. How often will math make you a million dollars?

I definitely agree with you. To me, accepting the prize money in no way devalue the scientific achievement.

Re: Math Genius Solves 100 Year Old Problem

#9

Post by agnesberthelot » Tue, May 03, 2011, 6:14 PM UTC

schmittz wrote: post #4

This article is too short to display the intricacies of what happened. For people more interested in the exact reason why he didn't accept the millennium prize from the Clay Institute and the nature of his proof to some slightly more rigorous mention (although the full proof is readily available on arXiv), please read this phenomenal piece written by The New Yorker in 2006, found here: http://www.newyorker.com/archiv…

Thank you for the link!

Re: Math Genius Solves 100 Year Old Problem

#10

Post by phrotoma » Tue, May 03, 2011, 6:56 PM UTC

Anyone have details on the documentary? It sounds like it'll be worth a look.