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Uh...math "expert"? Let's try a different word, NYT.
by Towle_ 17y ago
Uh...math "expert"? Let's try a different word, NYT.
- scott_s 17y agoWhat is wrong with the word? He clearly is an expert in math. Is your objection that it's redundant?
- alexgartrell 17y agoI think he was looking for "mathematician".
- CamperBob 17y agoIs there some reason to assume that all mathematicians are experts?
- alextgordon 17y agoAt least in the context of the headline, you can assume any mathematician being offered a $1m prize is likely to be an expert. In wider usage, I guess you could say "Math expert" to distinguish between students and professionals, but it's still as clear as mud because it doesn't state which field of mathematics the person is an expert in.
- zs 17y agoI think Perelman himself wouldn't care too much what you call him. He would say something like: “Everybody understood that if the proof is correct then no other recognition is needed.” (As he said before.) You don't need a license to be a mathematician. There's this conjecture, undecided for 100 years. Whoever solves it gets the glory. He doesn't have to be a "mathematician" or an "expert". A correct proof is all it takes. He solved it, and all that's left for us is to discuss whether he's an expert or not:)
- dschobel 17y agoThat caught my eye as well, my interpretation was that it was intentional as Perelman has retired from mathematics and is no longer a professional mathematician. I can't imagine any other reason for the odd phrasing and this being the NYT I'm going to assume some modicum of facility with the english language.