Abstruse Goose: Elegant Proof

[bystander]

[url=http://abstrusegoose.com/287][size=150][b][i]Abstruse Goose: Elegant Proof (2010 Jul 22)[/i][/b][/size][/url]

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[Beyond]

Seems to me that if you do not know what chaos made chaotic, it does not matter whether you present it neatly and in order or messy and hap-hazard.
Although neat does look better.
At best it will be a guess and at worst it will be misleading, for the most part.
But then, what do i know? I'm just in an animated piece of dust that's on a bigger piece of dust, that's spinning in a Bigger piece of dust, that's in a really BIG clump of dust, that's in........

[owlice]

But then, what do i know? I'm just in an animated piece of dust that's on a bigger piece of dust, that's spinning in a Bigger piece of dust, that's in a really BIG clump of dust, that's in........

So you're.... beyond? <g>

I love the phrase "Writing an elegant proof of a beautiful theorem." I think many people would be astonished at the notion that numbers can be something other than just numbers, that they can be aesthetically pleasing, lovely, delicious, and that math can be poetic, theorems beautiful, proofs elegant.

[neufer]

I love the phrase "Writing an elegant proof of a beautiful theorem." I think many people would be astonished at the notion that numbers can be something other than just numbers, that they can be aesthetically pleasing, lovely, delicious, and that math can be poetic, theorems beautiful, proofs elegant.

For those who truly love mathematics I highly recommend John Derbyshire's book _Prime Obsession: Bernhard Riemann and the Greatest Unsolved Problem in Mathematics_ (2003) which also contains this relevant anecdote about the great mathematician David Hilbert:

• [Prof. David] Hilbert was seen day after day in torn trousers, a source of embarrassment to many. The task of tactfully informing Hilbert of the situation was delegated to his assistant, Richard Courant. Knowing the pleasure Hilbert took in strolls in the countryside while talking mathematics, Courant invited him for a walk. Courant managed matters so that the pair walked through some thorny bushes, at which point Courant informed Hilbert that he had evidently torn his pants on one of the bushes. "Oh no," Hilbert replied, "they've been that way for weeks, but nobody notices".

[owlice]

For those who truly love mathematics I highly recommend John Derbyshire's book _Prime Obsession: Bernhard Riemann and the Greatest Unsolved Problem in Mathematics_ (2003)

Thank you, neufer! Already in the house. Where were you when I was casting about for titles for holiday giving, hmmm? I had to get my ideas elsewhere!

[neufer]

For those who truly love mathematics I highly recommend John Derbyshire's book
_Prime Obsession: Bernhard Riemann and the Greatest Unsolved Problem in Mathematics_ (2003)

Thank you, neufer! Already in the house.
Where were you when I was casting about for titles for holiday giving, hmmm?

I had to get my ideas elsewhere!

Well...how can I compete with somebody who actually LIVES in Hilbert Space?

I myself live here in Flatland:

A. Square Neuendorffer

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[owlice]

I myself live here in Flatland:

...wondrous strange... indeed!!

[neufer]

I myself live here in Flatland:

...wondrous strange... indeed!!

There are more things in heaven and earth, Owlice,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

[Beyond]

But then, what do i know? I'm just in an animated piece of dust that's on a bigger piece of dust, that's spinning in a Bigger piece of dust, that's in a really BIG clump of dust, that's in........

So you're.... beyond? <g>

Not yet owlice, not quite yet.

[geckzilla]

But then, what do i know? I'm just in an animated piece of dust that's on a bigger piece of dust, that's spinning in a Bigger piece of dust, that's in a really BIG clump of dust, that's in........

So you're.... beyond? <g>

I love the phrase "Writing an elegant proof of a beautiful theorem." I think many people would be astonished at the notion that numbers can be something other than just numbers, that they can be aesthetically pleasing, lovely, delicious, and that math can be poetic, theorems beautiful, proofs elegant.

Moreover, knowing how to use them can make you a damn lot of money.
Sorry, I usually don't think like that, but for some reason my next line of logic was, "but of what use are these pleasing, lovely, delicious, poetic numbers? ...oh yeah."

[neufer]

I love the phrase "Writing an elegant proof of a beautiful theorem." I think many people would be astonished at the notion that numbers can be something other than just numbers, that they can be aesthetically pleasing, lovely, delicious, and that math can be poetic, theorems beautiful, proofs elegant.

Moreover, knowing how to use them can make you a damn lot of money.

Sorry, I usually don't think like that, but for some reason my next line of logic was,
"but of what use are these pleasing, lovely, delicious, poetic numbers? ...oh yeah."

Click to play embedded YouTube video.