1729 and Taxi Cabs - Numberphile
video description
It's time for the world to write an accurate history of mathematics and pay credit where it's due and to undo the wrongs of the past.
BTW I cannot see how anyone in their right and rational mind would not be able to recognise Ramanujan as a genius.
Date: 2022-04-08
Related videos
Comments and reviews: 9
Certified
Really? Ramanujan isn't a genius for not noticing that he could use negative numbers to do gimmicks? wow. Not to sound offended, but Ramanujan was not just playing with some random number fun, he was familiar with 1729 because he was (on his own) trying to disprove Fermat's last theorem stating no solution exists for n=3. x-3 + y-3 = z-3 where x, y, z are POSITIVE INTEGERS. Numbers like 1729 barring the 1-3 were close to the solutions.
Truly sad that one of the greatest mathematicians with arguably the most natural talent with numbers had to die at such a young age.
reply
Really? Ramanujan isn't a genius for not noticing that he could use negative numbers to do gimmicks? wow. Not to sound offended, but Ramanujan was not just playing with some random number fun, he was familiar with 1729 because he was (on his own) trying to disprove Fermat's last theorem stating no solution exists for n=3. x-3 + y-3 = z-3 where x, y, z are POSITIVE INTEGERS. Numbers like 1729 barring the 1-3 were close to the solutions.
Truly sad that one of the greatest mathematicians with arguably the most natural talent with numbers had to die at such a young age.
reply
RAJ
U dumbs. What u know about genius? He was true genius! A man who know about infinity! n mind well on the death of doors. Mr. hardy gave him just a number. n Ramanujan put in a number with raise to powers n function. What about you two dumbs. think again before u speak! Dumbs. u r making a video after the situation take place by analysing it. what was your answer when someone ask u or tell u about any number with spontaneity? U couldn't have answered or a mathematical placement of function for that number!
reply
U dumbs. What u know about genius? He was true genius! A man who know about infinity! n mind well on the death of doors. Mr. hardy gave him just a number. n Ramanujan put in a number with raise to powers n function. What about you two dumbs. think again before u speak! Dumbs. u r making a video after the situation take place by analysing it. what was your answer when someone ask u or tell u about any number with spontaneity? U couldn't have answered or a mathematical placement of function for that number!
reply
Jayesh
How could you say that he's not a genius.
Just imagine that you have 32 years to contribute in the field of maths.
Then first thing you will do is taking formal training which will cover around 20 to 25 years of your life then in 7 to 8 years how could you get such fame as him, also a century ago with limited resources lesser than today makes it more difficult to do.
He did it without this stuff.
Okay
But remember he got the fellowship of royal society
reply
How could you say that he's not a genius.
Just imagine that you have 32 years to contribute in the field of maths.
Then first thing you will do is taking formal training which will cover around 20 to 25 years of your life then in 7 to 8 years how could you get such fame as him, also a century ago with limited resources lesser than today makes it more difficult to do.
He did it without this stuff.
Okay
But remember he got the fellowship of royal society
reply
sdm465
The significant part is that its the -_smallest_- number expressible as the sum of two cubes in two different ways. Hardy must have encountered dozens of such instances in his discussions with Ramanujan, and chose to mention just one of them in his autobiography. The anecdote sheds light on a mind with amazing ability to understand numbers & their relationship & a memory which could instantly recollect minutiae like these.
reply
The significant part is that its the -_smallest_- number expressible as the sum of two cubes in two different ways. Hardy must have encountered dozens of such instances in his discussions with Ramanujan, and chose to mention just one of them in his autobiography. The anecdote sheds light on a mind with amazing ability to understand numbers & their relationship & a memory which could instantly recollect minutiae like these.
reply
danvin
Like If you think the same that Ramanujan was one of the best Mathematician.
Shrinivas Ramanujan was a great genius. He was someone who new several numbers and their properties as though they were his friends. He contributed a lot towards mathematics which also provided a base for physics. He is my favorite mathematician. I respect him a lot. And Hardy to for recognizing the talent Ramanujan possessed.
reply
Like If you think the same that Ramanujan was one of the best Mathematician.
Shrinivas Ramanujan was a great genius. He was someone who new several numbers and their properties as though they were his friends. He contributed a lot towards mathematics which also provided a base for physics. He is my favorite mathematician. I respect him a lot. And Hardy to for recognizing the talent Ramanujan possessed.
reply
Shubham
If you consider cube of negative numbers then there is no point in saying smallest number that can be written as sum of cube of two numbers in two different ways. Eg. -10-3 + -9-3 = -12-3 + -1-3 = -1729 < 91 shown in the video, hence smallest number would be infinitely large negative number which doesn't make sense. This is just too much nit picking.
reply
If you consider cube of negative numbers then there is no point in saying smallest number that can be written as sum of cube of two numbers in two different ways. Eg. -10-3 + -9-3 = -12-3 + -1-3 = -1729 < 91 shown in the video, hence smallest number would be infinitely large negative number which doesn't make sense. This is just too much nit picking.
reply
Paul
A lot of non-native English speakers seem to be making similar comments here, taking issue with Dr Grime saying that Ramanujan wasn't a genius. He's not saying that at all, he's saying that this particular insight doesn't make him a genius, that's all! I guess it's quite subtle, but honestly, he isn't saying that the guy isn't a genius overall!
reply
A lot of non-native English speakers seem to be making similar comments here, taking issue with Dr Grime saying that Ramanujan wasn't a genius. He's not saying that at all, he's saying that this particular insight doesn't make him a genius, that's all! I guess it's quite subtle, but honestly, he isn't saying that the guy isn't a genius overall!
reply
inyobill
How does that fact that he had come up with the fact previous to the conversation imply he wasn't a genius? Obviously not the same thing as stating that was a genius for knowing the fact. I believe that the common take of folks qualified to have an opinion (I'm not one) is that he was well into the genius category.
reply
How does that fact that he had come up with the fact previous to the conversation imply he wasn't a genius? Obviously not the same thing as stating that was a genius for knowing the fact. I believe that the common take of folks qualified to have an opinion (I'm not one) is that he was well into the genius category.
reply
Purushotham
All I can say is, this video does injustice to both Hardy and Ramanujan, both great men and extraordinary mathematicians, with a high respect for one another. I would recommend that the two gentlemen, featured in the video, read Hardy's excellent memoir A Mathematician's Apology.
reply
All I can say is, this video does injustice to both Hardy and Ramanujan, both great men and extraordinary mathematicians, with a high respect for one another. I would recommend that the two gentlemen, featured in the video, read Hardy's excellent memoir A Mathematician's Apology.
reply
Add a review, comment
Other channel videos
