4 ms·

The funny thing about mathematics is that you don’t work with regular numbers so much. I never see a 37, I see ‘n’ –a lot of what I do involves a big number n t

The funny thing about mathematics is that you don’t work with regular numbers so much. I never see a 37, I see ‘n’ –a lot of what I do involves a big number n that goes to infinity. Never any specific number. An interesting answer to probably the most common question that mathematicians are asked. Radiolab[0] covered this and the significance of "favorite/lucky numbers" in a podcast a couple of months back. [0] - http://www.radiolab.org/story/love-numbers/ http://www.radiolab.org/story/love-numbers/

arketyp 12y ago
Asking a mathematician for their favorite constant is like asking a painter what their favorite color is. I like Tao's diplomatic answer.
- wolfgke 12y ago
  I'd rather say something like "Fischer–Griess monster" (it is a constant in the set of finite simple groups). Surely a constant, but not a numerical one. The interviewer will probably change the topic immediately for not becoming embarrassed. ;-) Surely a less diplomatic way than Tao's, admitted.
tel 12y ago
There's a fascinating story with respect to this. Alexandre Grothendieck is a famous mathematician known for his incredibly abstract methodologies. He once compared his technique to mathematics to the norm by relating standard mathematical methods as using a sledgehammer to open a nut. To him, his method was to slowly raise the water level and soak the nut until its shell becomes soft and he can open it with just a little pressure from his hand. However, his highly abstract nature got him in trouble at least once. One time in discussion a colleague of Grothendieck asked him to consider the argument for a concrete example of prime number. "You mean an actual number?" replied Grothendieck. "Alright, well then take 57". And now 57 is known as the Grothendieck Prime.

4 ms·

The funny thing about mathematics is that you don’t work with regular numbers so much. I never see a 37, I see ‘n’ –a lot of what I do involves a big number n t

by krat0sprakhar 12y ago

arketyp 12y ago
Asking a mathematician for their favorite constant is like asking a painter what their favorite color is. I like Tao's diplomatic answer.
- wolfgke 12y ago
  I'd rather say something like "Fischer–Griess monster" (it is a constant in the set of finite simple groups). Surely a constant, but not a numerical one. The interviewer will probably change the topic immediately for not becoming embarrassed. ;-) Surely a less diplomatic way than Tao's, admitted.
tel 12y ago
There's a fascinating story with respect to this. Alexandre Grothendieck is a famous mathematician known for his incredibly abstract methodologies. He once compared his technique to mathematics to the norm by relating standard mathematical methods as using a sledgehammer to open a nut. To him, his method was to slowly raise the water level and soak the nut until its shell becomes soft and he can open it with just a little pressure from his hand. However, his highly abstract nature got him in trouble at least once. One time in discussion a colleague of Grothendieck asked him to consider the argument for a concrete example of prime number. "You mean an actual number?" replied Grothendieck. "Alright, well then take 57". And now 57 is known as the Grothendieck Prime.