4 ms·

Look at this asshole, having a finite Erdos number and publishing solo ;-)

by onetwotree 11y ago

fapjacks 11y ago
I think I understand the humor, but could you please explain so that I'm certain?
- ergothus 11y ago
  Your Erdos number is how many citation links you pass through to reach a paper by Erdos. This author has (apparently) a nice tidy small Erdos number. To publish without co-authors denies those co-authors the chance to get (his Erdos number+1). So clearly he/she is selfish and has the wrong priorities :)
  - fapjacks 11y ago
    Ahh! I didn't understand, but I do now. Thanks for the clarification! I totally grok how that could be "frustrating".
  - s-phi-nl 11y ago
    FWIW, Babai (the author) has a very small Erdos number: 1: http://www.ams.org/mathscinet-getitem?mr=584517 http://www.ams.org/mathscinet-getitem?mr=584517
    - deathanatos 11y ago
      > Babai (the author) has a very small Erdos number Let's quit beating around the bush: he has the smallest possible Erdős number[1]. If you don't presently have an Erdős number, or wish to improve your Erdős number for bragging rights, co-authoring a paper with him (or any anyone with an equivalent Erdős number) is the best possible outcome. (Obtaining an Erdős number of one is sadly no longer possible.) [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erd%C5%91s_number https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erd%C5%91s_number
      - dietrichepp 11y ago
        Smallest possible for living humans. One person, notably, had a lower number, but he is no longer with us.
        hyperpallium 11y ago
        It's weird that you're downvoted. Just to clarify > Paul Erdős has an Erdős number of zero.
      - deleted 11y ago
        [deleted]
    - theodoredziuba 11y ago
      My Erdos number is 30 milligrams.
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
- todd8 11y ago
  Also, don't miss the Erdős–Bacon number list. It sums one's Erdős number with the Keven Bacon number (shortest path to a movie with Keven Bacon). Some examples (Erdos + Bacon): Mit Math Professor Daniel Kreitman (1 + 2) = 3 Richard Feynman (3 + 3) = 6 NCAA gymnastics champion Kiralee Hayashi (3 + 2) = 5 Natalie Portman (5 + 2) = 7 There's even a Erdos-Bacon-Sabbath number that also includes proximity to the band Black Sabbath.
  - ColinWright 11y ago
    Depending on how you count the Bacon number, I have an Erdős–Bacon number of 5 (2+3) and I'm actively working on my Sabbath number.
superuser2 11y ago
Not just finite. One.

Look at this asshole, having a finite Erdos number and publishing solo ;-)

fapjacks 11y ago

I think I understand the humor, but could you please explain so that I'm certain?

ergothus 11y ago
Your Erdos number is how many citation links you pass through to reach a paper by Erdos. This author has (apparently) a nice tidy small Erdos number. To publish without co-authors denies those co-authors the chance to get (his Erdos number+1). So clearly he/she is selfish and has the wrong priorities :)
- fapjacks 11y ago
  Ahh! I didn't understand, but I do now. Thanks for the clarification! I totally grok how that could be "frustrating".
- s-phi-nl 11y ago
  FWIW, Babai (the author) has a very small Erdos number: 1: http://www.ams.org/mathscinet-getitem?mr=584517 http://www.ams.org/mathscinet-getitem?mr=584517
  - deathanatos 11y ago
    > Babai (the author) has a very small Erdos number Let's quit beating around the bush: he has the smallest possible Erdős number[1]. If you don't presently have an Erdős number, or wish to improve your Erdős number for bragging rights, co-authoring a paper with him (or any anyone with an equivalent Erdős number) is the best possible outcome. (Obtaining an Erdős number of one is sadly no longer possible.) [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erd%C5%91s_number https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erd%C5%91s_number
    - dietrichepp 11y ago
      Smallest possible for living humans. One person, notably, had a lower number, but he is no longer with us.
      - hyperpallium 11y ago
        It's weird that you're downvoted. Just to clarify > Paul Erdős has an Erdős number of zero.
    - deleted 11y ago
      [deleted]
  - theodoredziuba 11y ago
    My Erdos number is 30 milligrams.
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
todd8 11y ago
Also, don't miss the Erdős–Bacon number list. It sums one's Erdős number with the Keven Bacon number (shortest path to a movie with Keven Bacon). Some examples (Erdos + Bacon): Mit Math Professor Daniel Kreitman (1 + 2) = 3 Richard Feynman (3 + 3) = 6 NCAA gymnastics champion Kiralee Hayashi (3 + 2) = 5 Natalie Portman (5 + 2) = 7 There's even a Erdos-Bacon-Sabbath number that also includes proximity to the band Black Sabbath.
- ColinWright 11y ago
  Depending on how you count the Bacon number, I have an Erdős–Bacon number of 5 (2+3) and I'm actively working on my Sabbath number.

superuser2 11y ago

Not just finite. One.