5 posts tagged with mathematics by cgc373.
Displaying 1 through 5 of 5.
Elegant Six-Page Proof Reveals the Emergence of Random Structure
The methods that would eventually lead to [Jinyoung Park and Huy Tuan Pham's] new proof of the Kahn-Kalai conjecture began with a breakthrough on a seemingly unrelated problem. In many ways, the story starts with the sunflower conjecture, a question posed by the mathematicians Paul Erdős and Richard Rado in 1960. The sunflower conjecture considers whether collections of sets can be constructed in ways that resemble the petals of a sunflower. 2500 words from Jordana Cepelewicz for Quanta Magazine. [more inside]
a template for how to feel confident whenever I need to: do the work
The mathematician Arthur Ogus explained Alexandre Grothendieck’s approach to problem solving by saying, "If you don’t see that what you are working on is almost obvious, then you are not ready to work on that yet." I find this quote comforting because it suggests that good ideas—at least for one famous mathematician—do not come into the mind ex niliho. Rather, good ideas come from so deeply understanding a problem that the solution seems obvious. 2700 words from Gregory Gundersen on the benefits of keeping a research blog.
Neutrinos Lead to Unexpected Discovery in Basic Math
In a way, it’s not surprising that a new insight into centuries-old mathematical objects came from physicists. Nature has inspired mathematical thinking ever since humans started counting on 10 fingers. “For math to thrive, it has to connect to nature,” Vu said. “There is no other way.” Natalie Wolchover writes 2000 words for Quanta Magazine.
SF Writer Greg Egan & Mystery Math Whiz Advance Permutation Problem
A new proof from the Australian science fiction writer Greg Egan and a 2011 proof anonymously posted online are now being hailed as significant advances on a puzzle mathematicians have been studying for at least 25 years. 1600 words from Erica Klarreich in Quanta Magazine.
From boiling lead and black art: Eddie Smith on math typography
What makes Knuth’s role in typographical history so special was just how much he cared about the appearance of typography in the 1970s—and the fact that he used his technical abilities to emulate the art he so appreciated from the Monotype era. Eddie Smith at Practically Efficient essays some 6000 words on the history of mathematical typography.
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