piphany wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 9:03 pm
What is the coolest mathematical proof, and what numbers, or type of number, do you intend to prohibit upon your ascent to power?
Very basic answer, but the coolest mathematical proof has to be Andrew Wiles' proof of Fermat's last Theorem. I have not read it (very long) nor do I know all the details, but the context around it is insane. There's a very good documentary about it (accessible to non mathematicians): https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074rxx
In terms of proofs I understand, Euler's Theorem is a nice one.
Upon our ascent to power I will be banning all numbers non-congruent to 0 mod 7, thus allowing us to share all resources equally between band members and eliminating nasty remainders
Ah, some delicious answers there! I loved Simon Singh's book about Wiles' efforts but I didn't realise there was a doc—thank you for the cosy nighttime material there!
And yesss, Euler's totient theorem is such a bop too. Truly the Terminator 2 of mathematical proofs.
Excellent modulo policy there. I'll order a few extra copies of Plan 75 before the inevitable recall and burning of the retconned illegally titled EP of bitter dissent begins.
daleph wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 8:44 pm
I love the Simon Singh book too! I remember them taking us to see him talk as a fun further maths A Level field trip. What a day!
No way?! What did he discuss? This is so cool, I'm second-hand starstruck...
piphany wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 9:03 pm
What is the coolest mathematical proof, and what numbers, or type of number, do you intend to prohibit upon your ascent to power?
Very basic answer, but the coolest mathematical proof has to be Andrew Wiles' proof of Fermat's last Theorem. I have not read it (very long) nor do I know all the details, but the context around it is insane. There's a very good documentary about it (accessible to non mathematicians): https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074rxx
In terms of proofs I understand, Euler's Theorem is a nice one.
Upon our ascent to power I will be banning all numbers non-congruent to 0 mod 7, thus allowing us to share all resources equally between band members and eliminating nasty remainders
Ah, some delicious answers there! I loved Simon Singh's book about Wiles' efforts but I didn't realise there was a doc—thank you for the cosy nighttime material there!
And yesss, Euler's totient theorem is such a bop too. Truly the Terminator 2 of mathematical proofs.
Excellent modulo policy there. I'll order a few extra copies of Plan 75 before the inevitable recall and burning of the retconned illegally titled EP of bitter dissent begins.
Oh nice I will have to check out the book! It looks like Simon Singh made the documentary as well, as a kind of adaptation of the book.
That Terminator 2 reference was excellent, I understood immediately. I guess that means Fermat is Arnie and Euler is Edward Furlong??!
I actually hadn't considered the implications of my modulo policy on the EP... I guess we will have to call it Plan 77 now :/
Excellent, thrilled to win the "Book recommendations for Neil" thread while simultaneously undercutting it entirely. And yes, so cool that there's a solid maths contingent here! Excited for this band to pioneer what Math Rock should've stood for all along, less counting to 7 and more songs about commutative ring theory with audience participation.
Surely the other way around, though?? I'd pictured Euler being the ultimate Arnie, now I need to go back to the drawing board for my dubbed unofficial maths cut
daleph wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 8:44 pm
I love the Simon Singh book too! I remember them taking us to see him talk as a fun further maths A Level field trip. What a day!
No way?! What did he discuss? This is so cool, I'm second-hand starstruck...
Sadly it was far too long ago for me to remember much about it but I'm sure it was fascinating
Another pop-sci easy going maths book I enjoyed around that time was The Man Who Loved Only Numbers, the Erdős biography. If ever I'm feeling like I'm dysfunctional and rubbish at life admin then he reminds me that it could always be much worse.
piphany wrote: ↑Fri Mar 14, 2025 10:05 am
Excellent, thrilled to win the "Book recommendations for Neil" thread while simultaneously undercutting it entirely. And yes, so cool that there's a solid maths contingent here! Excited for this band to pioneer what Math Rock should've stood for all along, less counting to 7 and more songs about commutative ring theory with audience participation.
Surely the other way around, though?? I'd pictured Euler being the ultimate Arnie, now I need to go back to the drawing board for my dubbed unofficial maths cut
Speaking of commutative rings, one time I was doing my Introduction to Algebra homework which featured questions about polynomial rings, and listening to Embryonic by The Flaming Lips at the same time. There was an audio sample in the music of a lecturer describing polynomial rings (hadn't noticed this before when I'd listened to the album). An amazing coincidence which frightened me a bit. How did the Flaming Lips know the niche maths topic I was working on at that exact moment??
In fairness I haven't seen the orginal Terminator (only seen T2), so I will trust your judgement (pun intended).
daleph wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 8:44 pm
I love the Simon Singh book too! I remember them taking us to see him talk as a fun further maths A Level field trip. What a day!
No way?! What did he discuss? This is so cool, I'm second-hand starstruck...
Sadly it was far too long ago for me to remember much about it but I'm sure it was fascinating
Another pop-sci easy going maths book I enjoyed around that time was The Man Who Loved Only Numbers, the Erdős biography. If ever I'm feeling like I'm dysfunctional and rubbish at life admin then he reminds me that it could always be much worse.
I just read the bio for this and it sounds amazing:
"For six decades Erdos had no job, no hobbies, no wife, no home; he never learnt to cook, do laundry, drive a car and died a virgin. Instead he travelled the world with his mother in tow, arriving at the doorstep of esteemed mathematicians declaring ‘My brain is open’. He travelled until his death at 83, racing across four continents to prove as many theorems as possible, fuelled by a diet of espresso and amphetamines."
I would like to enquire - which pair of the single digit numbers do you think are most likely to be friends?
Furthermore, recently, I have been struggling with a mathematical question - what is 7 times 8?? I'll give you time to think on this. Would you be able to reply by Friday the 25th of July?. Preferably during your show at Latitude festival? I need to have the answer to this problem by this time as it is important to my work.
