A Step Towards Proving the Riemann Hypothesis

arbitraryaardvark writes "A new mathematical object has been discovered by Bristol University student Ce Bian. The Riemann hypothesis, unproven since 1859, has to do with the distribution of primes and something called L-functions. Bian has demonstrated the first known third-degree transcendental L-function. This apparently opens up a new way to go about looking for proofs of the Riemann hypothesis. There is an unclaimed $1 million prize for a valid proof. We've discussed a couple of earlier attempts to claim the prize."

Comments

My own personal proof

[explosivejared]

Non-trivial zeroes of the zeta function are 1/2 because they naturally form as wholes, but as we all know a grue can't resist the tasty flesh of a non-trivial zero. I posit that the only way to prove the hypothesis is to kill a grue and vivisect it to search for the other half of the non-trivial zero. So until someone is brave enough to fight a grue and extract the flesh of the non-trivial zero, that million dollars is going unclaimed.

Re:My own personal proof

[Anonymous Coward]

...as we all know a grue can't resist the tasty flesh of a non-trivial zero. True enough. The interesting nature of non-trivial solutions is apparent to all; grue and non-grue alike.

I posit that the only way to prove the hypothesis is to kill a grue and vivisect it... But not in that order! "Vivisection" means dissection while alive. You'd need to capture a live and viable grue and then not kill it until (too early in the) dissection.

So until someone is brave enough to fight a grue and extract the flesh of the non-trivial zero, that million dollars is going unclaimed. Mathematicians are known to go adventuring from time to time, but mostly they seem to prefer coffee or tea for the extraction of proofs from the darkness.

Re:My own personal proof

[Anonymous Coward]

As we all know, attempting to vivisect a grue after its untimely demise will only result in self-inflicted vocabular impugnation.

Re:My own personal proof

[kalirion]

Apparently I fail at reading comprehension. I blame public schooling.

I have already solved this!

[Anonymous Coward]

...But unfortunately I do not have
enough room in the margin of this
text area to display it properly.

Re:I have already solved this!

[popmaker]

am on ship on way to england stop have solved riemann hypothesis stop will give details on return stop

The Riemann Hypothesis, by Robert Ludlum

[HiggsBison]

Cue the creepy, hushed voice-over:

In a University in Lower Saxony, a mathematician had formulated a remarkable conjecture. Its effects would be felt worldwide.

The Riemann Hypothesis, by Robert Ludlum. Now in paperback.

smile and nod

[esocid]

(just smile and nod, smile and nod. they'll never know you have no idea what this means)

Re:smile and nod

[piemcfly]

I can vouch for the smile-nod method.

I got through half a year of classes on game-theory in Korean with it. The professor never noticed I didn't speak a word Korean. Tests were in English, and the guy just kept asking ending in '...isn't that right, studentX?' or '...do you not agree, studentY?'.

Smile and nod baby, smile and nod. Best followed by a short single chuckle, as if the intrinsical irony of reality does not elude you.

By the end of the semester the guy actually seemed to like me.

Nevermind. Thought it said "Rainman"

[AmigaHeretic]

Uh oh... Uh oh fart.

Did you fart, Ray? Did you fucking fart?

Riemann zeta function on Wikipedia

[RockMFR]

The popular T.V. Show NUMB3RS had an episode ("Prime Suspect") in which criminals kidnapped a child and demanded as ransom a possible proof of the Riemann Hypothesis from a mathematician. The proof would be used to steal interest rates from an encrypted website.

Fascinating!

Re:Riemann zeta function on Wikipedia

[Surt]

That show is the best mathy/sciency show on television, mostly because they never, ever get the science wrong. Also, there's some good acting.

Re:What's really going on here

[kalirion]

Wow, it's so clear now!

Unproven since 1859???

[Anonymous Coward]

If they'd have left it alone in 1858 we wouldn't be having this trouble. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Those were the days

[Bromskloss]

...before 1859, when cars were pulled by horses and the Riemann hypothesis was still not unproven. Those were they days, I tell you, those they were.

Re:Just simplify it

[chromatic]

You're thinking of physicists, who can prove this hypothesis for all prime numbers which are perfectly spherical and exist in a perfect vacuum.