5 ms·
This article would seem more generous if it sketched a proof of the impossibility (using field extensions). Since it was worth proving for the first time in the
by theoh 9y ago
This article would seem more generous if it sketched a proof of the impossibility (using field extensions). Since it was worth proving for the first time in the mid 19th C I don't think it's appropriate to make fun of mid 20th C folks who didn't have access to Internet or mathematical expertise. I get that they're cranks but it's understandable that they hadn't got the memo.
Also would have been nice to mention https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neusis_construction https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neusis_construction though I appreciate that pre-Wikipedia, info was much more difficult to track down even if one was aware of it.
- mikeash 9y agoThe trouble is that they did have access to mathematical expertise, in the form of replies to the letters they sent to mathematicians, and pointing out the proof that it was impossible did not deter them.
- theoh 9y agoI think Dudley's attitude is regrettable. He uses the word "evil" in reference to the incorrect ideas they have, and the time and money wasted by mathematicians in replying to the cranks. He is more concerned with laughing at them than correcting their misapprehensions. I prefer to see great patience and diligence in those cases where mathematicians do reply, and the facts I mentioned would be good to include (details of a proof, a slightly relaxed version of the problem (and other classic "impossible" problems) which does have a solution).
- mikeash 9y agoIt sounds to me like he displayed great patience and diligence for a long time, and the new attitude of "evil" arose after observing that the former approach essentially never worked. He can't be concerned with correcting their misapprehensions if he can't correct them.