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An intelligent "layman" might watch that video and declare, "Math proves that 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + … = -1/12; yet this is obviously wrong. Those mathematicians don't
by pavpanchekha 13y ago
An intelligent "layman" might watch that video and declare, "Math proves that 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + … = -1/12; yet this is obviously wrong. Those mathematicians don't know what they're doing." Now, I do not know such a layman, but you must acknowledge this might happen. And this is the cost of the little lie permitted in the video you've linked.
If I wrote a "how to program" tutorial in which the code did not compile, you would likely berate my inept tutorial. Please allow mathematicians the same grace.
- Smaug123 13y ago> An intelligent "layman" might watch the video and declare, "Math proves that 1 + 2 + … = -1/12" Indeed, I have seen this exactly happen, with a secondary-school student. It took me some time to explain why it's rubbish-at-a-school-level.
- johnbm 13y agoIf you're worried laymen might come away thinking mathematics is completely alien to human interest, start with regular textbooks first.