I love every bit of it. Mathematical recluse, the solving of a long-mysterious formula, the international math community all agog, the whole thing … especially the recluse part of it. I understand NONE of it mathematically, but I love it because it’s a great story.
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If you put that guy in a lineup with 15 other guys and asked, “Who’s the recluse?”, he would be chosen by most people.
I like this sentence from the Wikipedia article on the guy:
Steve – HA! Love the ego!!!
I have to admit that when I saw his picture on my Yahoo News, without knowing what the story was, I thought he was another captured terrorist.
It appears to be the rare case of the justified case of astonishing ego, though, doesn’t it? Which is why it’s lovable.
He’s actually humble, in his way. Apparently, he only thinks he’s the greatest mathematician on Earth. Apparently, he’s right.
From Tatyana, commenting over at Tinkerty Tonk comes this gem.
The bottom of the “proof” in Russian reads:
“and from this it follows…that…you can stick your million up your ass”.
Have you seen this recent profile of him from the New Yorker?