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Mathematician Claims Proof of Riemann Hypothesis
TheSync points to this press release about a Purdue University mathematician, Louis de Branges de Bourcia, who claims to have "proven the Riemann hypothesis, considered to be the greatest unsolved problem in mathematics. It states that all non-trivial zeros of the zeta function lie on the line 1/2 + it as t ranges over the real numbers. You can read his proof here. The Clay Mathematics Institute offers a $1 million prize to the first prover."
It's that mathematicians love to exaggerate! Like infinity is infinite, or pi goes on forever! Those guys are always talking big.
Apology for the proof of the Riemann hypothesis (in pdf format).
"We humbly apologize for the complete illegibility of this proof. The mathematician responsible has been sacked."
It's too bad that most of society does not recognize truly great achievements like this. I, for one, admit interest but not enough knowledge of the details to read and understand the proof. I'm sure most people here on /., as representatives of the intelligent future of sentient life, have the interest as well.
-I am an elective eunuch.
They really should make mathematics more like pokemon, it would get more people interested in the subject
Riemann-chu, I prove you! Then bust out the paper.
I read through his proof and...nope, it's wrong. I know the real answer, but am leaving it as an exercise for the interested student.
I don't want to give it away, but you'll see it.
You know you're in trouble when you don't even understand the question.
When they came for the communists, I said "He's next door. Take him away. Goddam commies."
... 42?
Poor Nash is either going to find a mistake in this guy's work or go insane trying to ...
OpenSource.MathCancer.org: open source comp bio
I knew it was a hoax when he started discussing his Paley-Wiener space...
Support FSF: Stop thinking with your wallet, and think with your imagination. (cc/non-commercial)
I think I speak for all non-mathematicians when I say:
what?
I am a filthy pirate.
Yeah, I think you missed:
Equivocation - \E*quiv`o*ca"tion\, n. The use of expressions susceptible of a double signification, with a purpose to mislead boneheaded moderators, especially when you are just making a joke.
Boom Shanka
I came up with this proof weeks ago aqnd submitted it, but Slashdot rejected it.
I think I might as well write my epitaph now:
Doesn't it make you feel good to know that our freedoms are protected by politicans, lawyers and journalists.
Then the IRS will send de Branges a huge bill for the 45% tax rate on "winnings."
Then his ex-wife will sue for 50% of the million dollars because "he used to moan 'oh, Riemann' while we were doing it."
Then de Branges will spend 25 years opening letters from the poor and destitute who desparately deserve a chunk of his newfound yet nonexistent wealth.
Then eventually he will take his place in an unmarked mass grave reserved for all the great mathematicians who died peniless and unloved.
Well, that's my guess anyways.
>Mathematicians are never in it for the money.
You got it! They are in it for the chicks!
"If I were to awaken after having slept for a thousand years, my first question would be: Has the Riemann hypothesis been proven?"
Oh yeah? Mine would be "Is Doom 3 out yet?"
Honestly, which is more likely?
my last sig was too controversial... now, a new and improved useless sig!
mmmmmmmm......infinite pie..!
It's 42.
Besides, I think he forgot to carry the one.
If you do what you always did, you get what you always got.
Thank god, I used to lie awake at night worrying about that
Help fight continental drift.
From, http://www.math.purdue.edu/ftp_pub/branges/apology .pdf :
:-)
"The ruin of the chateau de Bourcia overlooks a fertile valley surrounded by wooded hills. The site is ideal for a mathematical research institute. The restoration of the chateau for that purpose would be an appropriate use of the million dollars offered for a proof of the Riemann hypothesis."
I guess when you work with numbers as big as he does one million is no big deal.
*smack!*
hehe I'm nearly 40 (where did the time go...) so I'd say I'm the present rather than the future. Hopefully my kid(s) will be the future. And will support me.
Now it's back to work, or my job will be in the past.
When they came for the communists, I said "He's next door. Take him away. Goddam commies."
I have another proof Of Riemann Hypothesis but this text area is too small for it, anyway /. comments doesn't allow math symbols.
The package said "Windows XP or better. Pentium Class Processor or better"... So I got a Mac with OS X
OK, I'm no mathematician and although the Clay Mathematics Institute is offering $1 million to anyone who proves this theory. I'm offering a case of beer to anyone who can make sense of any 3 words after "It states that..."
"It states that all non-trivial zeros of the zeta function lie on the line 1/2 + it as t ranges over the real numbers."
So what. My wife proved to me that there are no (and never will be) any non-trivial zeros on the left side of the decimal point in my checking account!
The race isn't always to the swift... but that's the way to bet!
Oh yeah? Mine would be "Is Doom 3 out yet?"
I notice that you won't even bother asking about Duke Nukem Forever.
Serve Gonk.
He appears to be 72.
Who do you get to be an expert to tell you something's not obvious? The least insightful person you can find? -J Roberts
Naw, it's gotta be the pie... at least that's all I ever hear them talking about...
And so it came to pass, Gentle Reader, that some of the Finders did find their fruit, and these were known as Keepers. But a few still lost their newfound fruit on the way home, and these poor souls were thenceforth known as Losers, unless they wept, in which case they were also known as Weepers.
"He who throws mud, loses ground." - proverb
There are no practical applications of knowing that the Riemann hypothesis is true.
I stopped reading here, because you are an idiot.
In Soviet America the banks rob you!
Q.
Insert Signature Here
But there is not enough room in this posting.
99 bottles of beer in 175 characte
but unfortunately it was censored by the Slashdot lameness filter.
You guys all have it wrong .. the apology is not referring to the proof, it's for having linked to a pdf ..
He forgot to carry the 7.
Don't you mean that know the real answer but have no room to write it down here?
How about some Jack Handey:
When you die, if you get a choice between going to regular heaven or pie heaven, choose pie heaven. It might be a trick, but if it's not, mmmmmmm, boy.