Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

World's cleverest man turns down $1 million prize after solving one of maths greatest puzzles
dailymail.co.uk ^ | March 23, 2010 | Will Stewart

Posted on 03/23/2010 12:35:33 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY

A Russian awarded $1million (£666,000) for solving one of the most intractable problems in mathematics said yesterday that he does not want the money.

Said to be the world's cleverest man, Dr Grigory Perelman, 44, lives as a recluse in a bare cockroach-infested flat in St Petersburg. He said through the closed door: 'I have all I want.'

The prize was given by the U.S. Clay Mathematics Institute for solving the Poincare Conjecture, which baffled mathematicians for a century. Dr Perelman posted his solution on the internet.

Four years ago, the maths genius failed to turn up to receive his prestigious Fields Medal from the International Mathematical Union for solving the problem.

At the time he stated: 'I'm not interested in money or fame. I don't want to be on display like an animal in a zoo.

'I'm not a hero of mathematics. I'm not even that successful, that is why I don't want to have everybody looking at me.'

Neighbour Vera Petrovna said: 'I was once in his flat and I was astounded. He only has a table, a stool and a bed with a dirty mattress which was left by previous owners - alcoholics who sold the flat to him.

'We are trying to get rid of cockroaches in our block, but they hide in his flat.'

It was in 2002 that Perelman, then a researcher at the Steklov Institute of Mathematics in St. Petersburg, began posting papers online suggesting he had solved the Poincare Conjecture, one of seven major mathematical puzzles for which the Clay Institute is offering $1 million each.

Rigorous tests proved he was correct.

The topological conundrum essentially states that any three-dimensional space without holes in it is equivalent to a stretched sphere.


(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-82 next last
To: Leo Farnsworth

>>
OK, so long as you agree with me that:

IF a guy can’t throw out a first pitch without lookin’ like a girlie-mon,

And IF he can’t run a country anywhere but into the ground,

THEN he can still be a Commie Doofus.

OK?
<<

Absofrickinlutely!


61 posted on 03/23/2010 1:28:09 PM PDT by RobRoy (The US today: Revelation 18:4)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: Ramius

“I wonder if any sufficiently advanced genius isn’t likely indistinguishable from madness.”

Maxwell, Einstein and Feynman were all pretty normal. I think there is no real correlation between genius and madness.


62 posted on 03/23/2010 1:28:18 PM PDT by devere
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Psycho_Bunny

Clever than you think. Can you imagine collecting the money would attract the interest of a Communist Government wanting the bulk. Now that we have Obamacare the top tax bracket is 44%.


63 posted on 03/23/2010 1:29:07 PM PDT by Orange1998
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Free ThinkerNY
Said to be the world's cleverest man, Dr Grigory Perelman, 44, lives as a recluse in a bare cockroach-infested flat in St Petersburg. He said through the closed door: 'I have all I want.'

"Who is rich? He who rejoices in his lot." --Pirqey 'Avot

Nice to know that all those rich people in the big, clean, cockroach-free houses are all dumb as a bag of bricks.

64 posted on 03/23/2010 1:30:23 PM PDT by Zionist Conspirator (Hinneh, 'Anokhi sholeach lakhem 'et 'Eliyyah HaNavi'; lifney bo' yom HaShem hagadol vehanora'!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Free ThinkerNY
Dr Perelman posted his solution on the internet.

Well, at least he has a computer. You suppose he has a manga collection too?

Wait a minute!!! DR. Perelman???

'I'm not a hero of mathematics. I'm not even that successful, that is why I don't want to have everybody looking at me.'

Hey! You know what??? I feel the same way! I guess I'm a genius too!

The topological conundrum essentially states that any three-dimensional space without holes in it is equivalent to a stretched sphere.

Um . . . er . . . I could have told you that! Er . . . I suppose . . .

65 posted on 03/23/2010 1:37:22 PM PDT by Zionist Conspirator (Hinneh, 'Anokhi sholeach lakhem 'et 'Eliyyah HaNavi'; lifney bo' yom HaShem hagadol vehanora'!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: struggle
His son:

Well, unless he reproduced by budding, there goes one stereotype!

66 posted on 03/23/2010 1:38:56 PM PDT by Zionist Conspirator (Hinneh, 'Anokhi sholeach lakhem 'et 'Eliyyah HaNavi'; lifney bo' yom HaShem hagadol vehanora'!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Hot Tabasco
He's a lying bum! I told him if I gave him the answer he'd split the cash with me..........

LOL! Funniest post yet!

67 posted on 03/23/2010 1:41:28 PM PDT by Zionist Conspirator (Hinneh, 'Anokhi sholeach lakhem 'et 'Eliyyah HaNavi'; lifney bo' yom HaShem hagadol vehanora'!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Free ThinkerNY

Paul Erdos, a math prodigy since childhood, one of the most prodigious mathematicians of the twentieth century, had trouble getting himself dressed properly and tying his own shoes. He traveled the world cheaply and basically lived liked a pauper even though he had a professorship. He gave away his most of salary to charity and poor math students. Most of his support came from friends, family and colleagues.
And he slept very little saying sleep took away time from doing math.


68 posted on 03/23/2010 1:42:01 PM PDT by StormEye
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sinanju
Yes, the archetypal "Mad Russian." But what a great thing. Million dollars? "I don't want it, go away."
69 posted on 03/23/2010 1:44:21 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Sacajaweau
Always amazes me...He solved it...Hundreds checked it out and agree....which in reality means each was capable of the solution

I see you've been reading Socrates again...

70 posted on 03/23/2010 1:48:16 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: StormEye
Paul Erdos, a math prodigy since childhood, one of the most prodigious mathematicians of the twentieth century, had trouble getting himself dressed properly and tying his own shoes.

Well I've got him beat! I can't do math or those things!

Just waiting to find what it is I'm a genius at!

71 posted on 03/23/2010 1:48:58 PM PDT by Zionist Conspirator (Hinneh, 'Anokhi sholeach lakhem 'et 'Eliyyah HaNavi'; lifney bo' yom HaShem hagadol vehanora'!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: rfp1234
An example of an "idiot savant" is the guy in China who knows pi to sixty thousand digits. this guy is Tom Bombadil.
72 posted on 03/23/2010 1:52:42 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: StormEye
And he slept very little saying sleep took away time from doing math.

Sounds like a typical FReeper.......LOL!

73 posted on 03/23/2010 2:00:11 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: hinckley buzzard

Russians are very special people. I have had the privilege of living with them and spending time. They are one of the few who understand.


74 posted on 03/23/2010 2:08:36 PM PDT by BenKenobi ("we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: Free ThinkerNY

Poor guy. He looks miserable.


75 posted on 03/23/2010 2:17:21 PM PDT by Lazamataz ("We beat the Soviet Union. Then we became them." -- Lazamataz, 2005)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ChrisInAR

Nope, these eyes are blue,this is a Barney Boy.


76 posted on 03/23/2010 2:48:59 PM PDT by GOYAKLA (Flush Congress in 2010 & 2012)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: Free ThinkerNY

77 posted on 03/23/2010 3:54:27 PM PDT by Fester Chugabrew
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RobRoy

Different people are “smart” in different ways. A guy that cannot grasp the concept of language but can run circles around anyone else on a sports court is “smart” in his brains connection to his muscles.

“Meanwhile a math genius “poindexter” may be unable to dribble a basketball more than once or catch a fly ball without it bouncing off his forehead first.

Both are smart in one way and dumb as a box of rocks in another. Looks like this guy is, as are we all, smart and dumb at the same time.

For most of us, though, the “smarts” are more evenly spread out among the various skill sets.”

Besides the humor here cuz I need a laugh, you guys are...like an ab-workout! Mixed in with the above?
Can’t find the words to describe the gift it is to be here!
I grow wiser amongst you.

Why am I pulling out my wallet?


78 posted on 03/23/2010 4:39:11 PM PDT by spankalib
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: SMARTY

““O” should hire him to find where the next bailouts are going to come from”
LOL


79 posted on 03/23/2010 4:40:24 PM PDT by spankalib
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: spankalib

>>Why am I pulling out my wallet?<<

Freepmail me and I’ll give you an adress to send the money to.


80 posted on 03/23/2010 4:42:45 PM PDT by RobRoy (The US today: Revelation 18:4)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 78 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-82 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson