Classic maths puzzle cracked at last (May lead to advances in particle physics & computer security)

NewScientist.com news service ^ | 03/21/2005 | Maggie McKee

[CharacterCounts]

I didn't know this was such a mystery. They should have asked me -- I worked this out years ago.

I invented the "clapper" but forgot to patent it.

[Erasmus]

Errr..... 0 through 9 and A through F.

[Erasmus]

I invented the "clapper" but forgot to patent it.

Prior art: Notre Dame.

[munchtipq]

Read the article. The result has to do with properties of prime numbers.

[DC Bound]

I could have told him long ago that the answer is 42.

[antiRepublicrat]

How is it a "puzzle"? It's a coincidence, or a feature of mathematics but what is so puzzling about it?

In math you can find interesting patterns or way numbers work, but it's all just an idea until someone can mathematically prove it. It was thought this pattern extended to all prime numbers, but it was only a thought, a guess. This grad student proved it.

[munchtipq]

Which was an excellent movie, in my opinion. I heard that the director of Pi was supposed to be working on the next Batman movie, dunno how true that is.

[RadioAstronomer]

Which appears to be part of the inspiration for the current TV series "NUMB3RS."

Seems rather bizarre, however, I liked the movie "Pi". LOL!

I saw an episode of "Numbers" and I really didn't like it very well.

[Joe Miner]

I think you two just proved a Ramanujan congruence.

[rock58seg]

Pi are round, cornbread are squared

O.K.! Now go do your Gazinta's.

[RadioAstronomer]

I could have told him long ago that the answer is 42.

Nope. That was just designed to hide the truth. :-)

The real number is 0.007297352568( +/- 24) LOL!

[rod1]

Yeah and when they talk about a sports team or institution, the team name is plural automatically. As in "Arsenal WERE playing on a wet pitch today when they gained three point in the table... ". When would say "Duke is in tbe final four". Rather than "Duke are....

[rock58seg]

I could have told him long ago that the answer is 42.

And, thanks for all the fish!

[MacDorcha]

But this (from the article) math is based in addition and groupings.

Though what you were going over intrigues me. But I don;t think I'm talking out of place in saying it does not dispute my assertion towards the article.

[MacDorcha]

The answer is.... 42.

Would you like to know "the question?"

We're going to get lynched, aren't we?

[DC Bound]

Do you know anything about the Hitchhiker movie coming out?

[bedolido]

ooppppsss!!! you are correct sir. 0 thru 9... offset is zero.

[Larry Lucido]

I think you two just proved a Ramanujan congruence."

Yes, instead of "I only hit enter once, honest," we can say, "Sorry, must have been a Ramanujan congruence."

[AmishDude]

The article says nothing of importance.

[MacDorcha]

Hehehe, yeah... we're bastards :)