Ramanujian's Deathbed Problem Cracked

Jake's Mom sends word of the serendipitous solution to a decades-old mathematical mystery. Researchers from the University of Wisconsin have unraveled a major number theory puzzle left at the death of one of the twentieth century's greatest mathematicians, Srinivasa Ramanujan. From the press release: "Mathematicians have finally laid to rest the legendary mystery surrounding an elusive group of numerical expressions known as the 'mock theta functions.' Number theorists have struggled to understand the functions ever since... Ramanujan first alluded to them in a letter written [to G. H. Hardy] on his deathbed, in 1920. Now, using mathematical techniques that emerged well after Ramanujan's death, two number theorists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have pieced together an explanatory framework that for the first time illustrates what mock theta functions are, and exactly how to derive them."

Comments

Re:Ramanujan

[turing_m]

The number of geniuses who aren't given an opportunity because they are born poor pales in comparison to the number of geniuses who haven't been born thanks to the dysgenic social engineering of the last 60 years.

Ironically, most of it has been sold as "liberation" and "freedom" for women. They don't realize they have been had until they wake up age 38 in some job they don't hate, find out that the "free love" they have been having over the years has given them infertility, and can't find a good husband because men have been naturally selected to desire a young wife.

One of the worst propaganda motifs has been the idea that intelligent women should prioritize career at all costs over making babies. Equal pay for equal work has also made it much more difficult for breadwinners/stay at home moms (due to doubling supply of labor), so outsourcing the mothering (which is done poorly by daycare) is more viable.

It's not that hard a concept; if we want geniuses the best strategy is to breed more of them.