George Dantzig, 1914-2005

Markus Registrada writes "George Dantzig, the inventor of the Simplex method for solving Linear Programming problems, died on May 13. He was also the now-legendary student who turned in solutions for what he had taken to be a homework assignment, only to find out they had been posted as examples of what were suspected to be unsolvable problems."

Comments

So sad.

[Shky]

Goodbye, dear friend.
We hardly knew ye.
And we certainly had no idea what you were talking about.

Damn!

[Anonymous Coward]

At least his teachers knew he wasn't cheating.

R.I.P., Dude.

RIP

[Ignorant Aardvark]

It's always sad when a great scientific mind dies. And I recall, just recently, someone was joking about using the simplex method to find the best seat in a theater to see Star Wars.

Re:RIP

[physicsphairy]

And I recall, just recently, someone was joking about using the simplex method to find the best seat in a theater to see Star Wars.

Well, now we have a motive for the murder, at least.

Re:RIP

[FuzzyBad-Mofo]

It's always sad when a great scientific mind dies.

Meh, he'll be back. Just gotta wait 20 or 30 years for the respawn..

Unsolvable geek problems.

[Anonymous Coward]

"He was also the now-legendary student who turned in solutions for what he had taken to be a homework assignment, only to find out they had been posted as examples of what were suspected to be unsolvable problems."

How to get a date?

Re:Unsolvable geek problems.

[HoneyBunchesOfGoats]

Well, he was married, so he must have solved that problem. Unfortunately he did not elect to share the proof publicly. :)

Re:Unsolvable geek problems.

[Alsee]

I think he was hoping for an answer that can actually be used by geeks.

-

So what

[keziahw]

"examples of what were suspected to be unsolvable problems" No big deal, I do unsolvable homework problems all the time.

Genius, ha

[Anonymous Coward]

"who turned in solutions for what he had taken to be a homework assignment, only to find out they had been posted as examples of what were suspected to be unsolvable problems."

If he was so smart, why did he make the mistake of thinking it was homework?

Re:Genius, ha

[Anonymous Coward]

Better question:

If he's so smart, how come he's dead?

Re:Genius, ha

[FuzzyBad-Mofo]

Coincidently, it is also well known that mathematical talents are completely separate from spelling ability. For instance, at the very moment you said "intelligence is inversely proportional to common sence", an immense fleet of microscopic warships was consumed by a small dog in the vicinity of Islington. Fortunately this is nothing to be concerned by, because this sort of this is usually Somebody Else's Problem.

Re:Genius, ha

[Taladar]

That would mean there are a lot of insanely intelligent people out there. I guess I am not the only one who doubts that...

Re:I've been enlightened!

[metlin]

Yeah, but for the life of me, I cannot understand what's the question behind Goatse!?

Re:I've been enlightened!

[rokzy]

reminds me of someone's sig - "Microsoft is not the answer, Microsoft is the question. the answer is no."

not wanting this to be an OS flamefest though, just take the above as a joke or leave it alone.

the part about handing in unsolvable homework is great, though probably slightly embellished.

Re:He must be rolling in his grave!

[_KiTA_]

Well, the mods wanted to post it, but they were waiting for one of them to mathematically prove his death, and CowboyNeil insisted they show their work.

Re:Oh, now wait a minute...

[Simon Garlick]

It's times like these we need a moderation option of "-1, crack baby".

Translation

[autojive]

Translation for today's college students. :-)

Link

Mother

[cloudmaster]

Am I the onlyone who read this and initially thought something along the lines of "what does Glenn Danzig have to do with Pi"?

Re:Mother

[Anonymous Coward]

There for a second, I thought all hope for a Misfits reunion was lost.

No big loss

[andy@petdance.com]

It's hardly a loss.

None of his solo stuff after he left the Misfits was any good.

"Muthaaa!" indeed.

Re:reminds me a similar story

[QuantumG]

Jesus man! Did you ever stop to think that he might have been there? You insensitive clod.

Re:Karma-whoring clarifier

[PlacidPundit]

It's also used in physical simulation to solve the static friction conditions that arise when many objects are in mutual contact.

I once used it to make a perfect ham sandwich.

Re:Karma-whoring clarifier

[Young Master Ploppy]

"It's also used in physical simulation to solve the static friction conditions that arise when many objects are in mutual contact."

(sigh) Only on Slashdot would this sentence refer to a mathematical method rather than KY Jelly... ( ducks )

You're all missing a very important point!

[Seumas]

You are all missing a very vital and important point here.

HE DIED ON FRIDAY THE 13th!

Dear god, when will the madness end? When will we do something about these evil days? Sure, Ashcroft deals with the evil black cats (or was it calico), but what did he do about the terrorism that is friday the 13th?!

DEAR GOD, MY FELLOW AMERICANS, WON'T YOU PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!

(And the elderly scientists).

Re:Karma-whoring clarifier

[bdktty]

That's simulation, not sTimulation...