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."

Comments

If there's one thing I know

[Anonymous Coward]

It's that mathematicians love to exaggerate! Like infinity is infinite, or pi goes on forever! Those guys are always talking big.

Apology

[Anonymous Coward]

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."

Re:Apology

[Tackhead]

> "We humbly apologize for the complete illegibility of this proof. The mathematician responsible has been sacked."

"A Slashdotter has discovered a truly wonderful proof of the sacking of the mathematician responsible, but his bandwidth is too narrow to host it!"

Re:Apology

[letxa2000]

You know, I had this exact same idea several years ago but I figured it couldn't possibly be [b]that[/b] obvious so I figured I was just wrong. Rats. :)

Re:Apology

[Ralph Wiggam]

The Bourcia Mathematical Research Institute will involve more whores and cocaine than a typical research institute, but for tax purposes it's a research institute.

-B

Good job

[Thinkit4]

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.

Re:Good job

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, first thing I thought was "Thank God someone solved that problem. Could not have waited much longer."

Gotta prove 'em all

[foidulus]

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.

Re:Gotta prove 'em all

[Felinoid]

Mathomon?
Yeah but then a few years later Yu-Physics-Oh comes along and replaces it in popularity. Then before you know it that two is gone replaced by annother populare science.
Plus it would replace Arceology the gathering.

Magic The Gathering, Pokemon and yugioh are in the 15 minuts of fame catagory. Populare today gone tomarow.

I don't want Math to be gone tomarow. I'm counting on it to stay for a while.

Now english I wouldn't mind if it's own end was spelled out. You can see the proof reading this very post.

Nope! Nice try

[ajboyle]

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.

Uh-oh! There's a mistake!

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't want to give it away, but you'll see it.

I'm in trouble

[martinX]

You know you're in trouble when you don't even understand the question.

Is it...

[Anonymous Coward]

... 42?

Apologies to the proof?

[ak_hepcat]

I knew it was a hoax when he started discussing his Paley-Wiener space...

Hm

[blitzoid]

I think I speak for all non-mathematicians when I say:

what?

Re:WTF? Mods?

[thefinite]

This should at most have earned a "Funny", or is there something I'm missing here?

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.

Died before he could prove it

[exp(pi*sqrt(163))]

I love this sentence from the article:

The origins of the hypothesis date back to 1859, when mathematician Bernhard Riemann came up with a theory about how prime numbers were distributed, but he died in 1866, before he could conclusively prove it.

As he didn't prove the result, either before or after his death, how can it be said that he died before he proved it? Maybe the lives of great mathematicians form arcs in some abstract space that can be extrapolated beyond their death?

I think I might as well write my epitaph now:

Here lies exp(pi*sqrt(163))
He died before he could get laid by Charlize Theron

Re:Died before he could prove it

[richie2000]

You're not dead yet. Go for it!

Re:Died before he could prove it

[anshil]

Mathematicans don't die, they just loose some of their functions....

Re:Proof of theory

[timeOday]

Wonder what he'll do with the money?

Purdue will take the money, because he works there. It will be used to build a new scoreboard for the football stadium.

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.

Re:Proof of theory

[thygrrr]

>Mathematicians are never in it for the money.

You got it! They are in it for the chicks!

Re:Hilbert Turns in his Grave?

[rattler14]

"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?

homer simpson

[Anonymous Coward]

mmmmmmmm......infinite pie..!

It's already been solved...

[blueforce]

It's 42.

Besides, I think he forgot to carry the one.

Re:Impact on crypto?

[onemorehour]

It's actually a little more complex than that.

*smack!*

Another Proof

[larry2k]

I have another proof Of Riemann Hypothesis but this text area is too small for it, anyway /. comments doesn't allow math symbols.

Re:de Branges' reputation with other mathematician

[stevesliva]

He's just trying to disprove the "Field's Medal Hypothesis" -- no one over the age of 40 can accomplish innovative math.

He appears to be 72.

Re:Already failed once

[Mudcathi]

A long time ago, in the distant past, there were Finders. Dedicated individuals that wandered around outside the camps and found stuff. Over time, it became more difficult to find stuff, and the Finders became the Searchers.

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.