I love this crap

Posted on August 23, 2006 by sheila

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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6 Responses to I love this crap

  1. Rob says:
    August 23, 2006 at 3:30 pm

    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.

  2. Steve Ely says:
    August 23, 2006 at 7:02 pm

    I like this sentence from the Wikipedia article on the guy:

    He has previously turned down a prestigious prize from the European Mathematical Society, allegedly saying that he felt the prize committee was unqualified to assess his work (even positively).

  3. red says:
    August 23, 2006 at 8:37 pm

    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.

  4. Steve Ely says:
    August 23, 2006 at 11:27 pm

    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.

  5. John says:
    August 24, 2006 at 10:36 pm

    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”.

  6. Steve Ely says:
    August 31, 2006 at 10:34 am

    Have you seen this recent profile of him from the New Yorker?

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