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There Are Infinitely Many Prime Twins

Posted by michael on from the so-the-theory-goes dept.

fustflum writes "R. F. Arenstorf from Vanderbilt University has presented a 38-page possible proof of the twin-prime conjecture using methods from classical analytic number theory. The paper is on arxiv.org and is freely available to the public. Twin primes are pairs of primes where both p and p + 2 are prime. "It is conjectured that there are an infinite number of twin primes ... but proving this remains one of the most elusive open problems in number theory." More information about twin primes can be found on Mathworld."

8 of 479 comments (clear)

  1. Number theory by PHP+Wolf · · Score: 5, Funny
    but proving this remains one of the most elusive open problems in number theory

    I think we all know the most elusive open problem in number theory is "How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?"

    --

    Double Compile

    1. Re:Number theory by Da+Fokka · · Score: 5, Funny

      Reminds me of a funny story I heard at an algorithm course in college.
      Supposedly this guy thought up this new algorithm to calculate large primes in relatively short time. He was granted the use of the university mainframe. He implemented the progam and ran it.
      After a couple of days the printer started printing out the number, which was so large it needed a pack of sheets to fit on.
      Excited, he looked at the sheets to be gravely disappointed. The last digit was an 8.

      Probably an urban legend, but a nice one for sure :)

  2. I have a better proof by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    but it hit /.'s maximum post size limit :(

  3. Re:This is why mathematicians are soooo popular. by servognome · · Score: 5, Funny

    "You know, mathematicians theorize that there's an infinite number of prime twins, and... hey, where are you going?"
    You would have gotten farther if you had said that without staring the whole time at her "prime twins"

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    D6 63 0D 70 89 81 BB 8E 7B 7C 5F 5D 54 EA AB 73
  4. 38 pages? by Wakkow · · Score: 5, Funny

    They should have put it in 37 pages..

  5. Well, one thing's for sure.. by robbo · · Score: 5, Funny

    they're all odd.

    (Waiting for my spot in the math hall of fame)

    --
    So long, and thanks for all the Phish
  6. He makes a mistake... by b0r0din · · Score: 5, Funny

    Look on page 27. He's trying to integrate homeomorphic convergence using a Baxter-Bates supermodality, which Krause clearly explained is impossible for T(s) in a non-linear progression.

    Ok, just fuckin with ya. My mind wandered after I saw the word 'Abstract.' ;)

    1. Re:He makes a mistake... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yeah, I see a lot of people attempting to integrate homophobic conformance using Master-Bates supermoodality, which Krauds exploded as impenetrable for T/bag in a non-lesbian prostation.