For the math heads in the crowd
 

I subscribe to a site called Cantor's Paradise, which includes interesting stories about different facets of mathematics.

A famous mathematician, and subject of a book or two, is Srinivasa Ramanujan. His contributions are legion. Well, here is something that I didn't know about him. He proved that

1 + 2 + 3 + ⋯ + ∞ = -1/12

Yep. The sum of the integers through infinity equals -1/12. Turns out to be an important result, especially for quantum mechanics and string theory.

A short and very accessible article can be found here:
https://medium.com/cantors-paradise/...2-a8cc23dea793

Math is weird.

Re: For the math heads in the crowd
 

Obviously, I'm Not A Math Wiz, Mark! That Makes My Head Hurt!:r:D:tu

Re: For the math heads in the crowd
 

And what is the sum if you subtract infinity? :D

Re: For the math heads in the crowd
 

I came up with 6...boy, was I way off :r

Re: For the math heads in the crowd
 

x2!

Re: For the math heads in the crowd
 

Interesting concept, the solution being a "math oddity" almost in that it is a valid solution but the practicality of the solution may not be there in real life.

Interesting to see that they move it back to the original string theory but as they mention doesn't apply to Supersymmetry.

I just reread A Brief History of Time and going through The Universe in a Nutshell.

Cool stuff and goes way over my head quickly.

Re: For the math heads in the crowd
 

I mean... when looking at every number ever 6 is pretty close :banger

Re: For the math heads in the crowd
 

Here is a pic of my "fun" math books, well, except for the CRC which is there to help me understand some of the rest.

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/attach...1&d=1612890765

Re: For the math heads in the crowd
 

This is TRUE math.

https://archive.org/details/acacebf9...c9b353ef934495

Re: For the math heads in the crowd
 

That is awesome! Just reading some of the titles makes the gears start to smoke!

Re: For the math heads in the crowd
 

I don't see Godel, Escher, Bach there. :confused: ;) :D

Re: For the math heads in the crowd
 

Re: For the math heads in the crowd
 

It's on another shelf. So are many others.

Re: For the math heads in the crowd
 

Well, here are a few

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/attach...1&d=1612901332

Re: For the math heads in the crowd
 

Unless it's counting money, I am not into math.

Re: For the math heads in the crowd
 

I use my math to make money. I find it more productive than just counting.

Re: For the math heads in the crowd
 

I rely on good looks and charm.

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Re: For the math heads in the crowd
 

Is that why I am so poor? :confused:

Re: For the math heads in the crowd
 

Yes

Re: For the math heads in the crowd
 

Was watching some youtube videos on Cantor tonight and found a mention of this book. Ordered from Amazon.

http://www.theannotatedturing.com/toc.htm

Re: For the math heads in the crowd
 

I'm gonna head to the student center Monday and buy the Cliff's Notes. -(P

Re: For the math heads in the crowd
 

Bringing this back to life to post a link to an interesting article on some physics history. It's about a topic that I have no clue about -- have tried for years but can't even begin to understand it -- quantum mechanics. It's about Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr and their fundamentally different views of physics.

https://www.cantorsparadise.com/the-...e-baa0929a78b5

Anyway, I found it an enjoyable read and quite a bit more understandable, to me, than most other articles that I have found on this subject.

I hope that some here find it interesting.

Re: For the math heads in the crowd
 

Thank you for sharing Mark, a very good read.

This one contains some of the same characters but set around WW2 and the atomic bomb. Crazy to think of the discoveries and thinking back around 100 year ago.

https://www.amazon.com/Bastard-Briga...s%2C224&sr=8-1

Re: For the math heads in the crowd
 

cool! Read the first chapter online. A very well written story.