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Riemann Hypothesis Proved? 454

Theodore Logan writes "Has the Riemann Hypothesis finally been proved? The proof is a couple of months old, and to the best of my knowledge a Swedish newspaper is the only one to take up the story yet, so there is certainly a possibility that this is a hoax, or a less than watertight proof. But if it turns out to be the real thing, it will, apart from winning the authors eternal fame and glory for finding the holy Grail of modern math, provide them with a cool $1 million as they claim the first Millennium Prize." We had a story a while back about this as well.
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Riemann Hypothesis Proved?

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  • by YellowSnow ( 569705 ) on Monday March 03, 2003 @11:17AM (#5424070)
    First Proof?
  • um... (Score:4, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 03, 2003 @11:19AM (#5424086)

    "A proof of the Riemann's hypothesis (RH) about the non-trivial zeros of the Riemann zeta-function is presented. It is based on the construction of an infinite family of operators D^{(k,l)} in one dimension, and their respective eigenfunctions \psi_s (t), parameterized by continuous real indexes k and l. Orthogonality of the eigenfunctions is connected to the zeros of the Riemann zeta-function. Due to the fundamental Gauss-Jacobi relation and the Riemann fundamental relation Z (s') = Z (1-s'), one can show that there is a direct concatenation among the following symmetries, t goes to 1/t, s goes to \beta - s (\beta a real), and s' goes to 1 - s', which establishes a one-to-one correspondence between the label s of one orthogonal state to a unique vacuum state, and a zero s' of the \zeta. It is shown that the RH is a direct consequence of these symmetries, by arguing in particular that an exclusion of a continuum of the zeros of the Riemann zeta function results in the discrete set of the zeros located at the points s_n = 1/2 + i \lambda_n in the complex plane."

    What the fuck?

  • by siliconwafer ( 446697 ) on Monday March 03, 2003 @11:28AM (#5424154)
    Finally, the mathematics we need to generate the 1.21 jigawatts to go ...

  • by Boss, Pointy Haired ( 537010 ) on Monday March 03, 2003 @11:29AM (#5424161)
    Walk quickly across your office over to someone in accounts. They will have a spreadsheet open (they always do).

    Point to a random cell, and shout "That should be a 3". Then turn and walk away just as quickly.

    Really pisses them off.
  • Translation (Score:5, Funny)

    by Quixote ( 154172 ) on Monday March 03, 2003 @11:31AM (#5424176) Homepage Journal
    Here's a "translation" from InterTran [tranexp.com]. Be gentle.


    Classic matteproblem able have got a solution
    One of mathematics superb olösta problem, the so call Riemannhypotesen, able now have got a solution, 144 year after that that Bernhard Riemann publish sina mind if a special equation, as in its luck is förknippad with primtalen.

    If the really am exposing themselves that certificates am holding able they two problemlösarna so småningom give a receipt out one million dollar in reward.
    Year 1900 was gathering the world most outstanding mathematics to a conference in Paris. Wonder that present David Hilbert, the terms rankings mathematical think, 23 problem as sedan arrived that affect mathematics wonder heal 1900- digits, and than today. One of these problem each Riemannhypotesen, and defiance superb efforts has it stay olöst. IN November 2002 publish yet Carlos Castro from Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, America, and Jorge Mahecha from University perceive Antioquia, Centre queue, Colombia a one proposal to solution.

    The reward on one million dollar as exhibitor of American Clay Mathematics Institute sheep they yet nots out traitor one year behind publication. This for that second mathematics bark poll term that police accomplishment and watch if the really is accurate.
    - About this is truly is the a grand sensation. This is a creature of problem as am claiming great effort entrance a eventual solution able verify. Tusentals mathematics the world over will pounce this and inspect certificates with a magnifier, says Andes Karlqvist, mathematics, professor in data and manager for Polarforskningssekretariatet.

    He am declaring that certain of Hilberts problem rather is problemområden than separate problem. A bit had also word if under these term as gone. If now Riemannhypotesen is absolved so is tens of they 23 problems absolved, seven is olösta, five is part absolved and one is nots inferior current.
    Under Andes Karlqvist each Hilbert really grand within sits precinct, with him was concluding a epok. He each the lastly as had survey over heal the mathematical science.

    Mathematics have the latest decade deployed very quickly, and the cheers article one aid as it olds 1900- digits mathematics nots be able anticipate datorn. Day all prompt and major datorer able manipulate huge amount speech and on short term make computations as formerly each impossible for a mans although he/ she was working a good deal currency with sina figure.

    With datorernas help had certain problem absolved, as fyrfärgsproblemet. The says that the nots ring up to more than four various colours for that färglägga a maps so that nots area with a common limit had same colour. One datorprogram had systematic gone through all conceivable alternative.

    Andes Karlqvist deem yet that the find one philosophy dilemma with this: inquiring is if husband bark accept evidence in form of one datorprogram. He am believing that wes now am standing before one kulturskifte within mathematics. Wonder the next decade am arriving the that evolve radically, and the because they all efficient datorerna.

    Bengal Jonsson

  • by zensonic ( 82242 ) on Monday March 03, 2003 @11:33AM (#5424185) Homepage
    1. . Write complex math that nobody understands.
    2. . Say it solves complex problem nobody understands.
    3. . ...
    4. . ...
    5. . profit!


    Q.E.D!
  • by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 03, 2003 @11:34AM (#5424196)
    ...trivial and left to the reader. Sorry ;-).
  • Of course (Score:5, Funny)

    by Pac ( 9516 ) <paulo...candido@@@gmail...com> on Monday March 03, 2003 @11:37AM (#5424237)
    First, it proves Riemann was right.

    It also proves that all non-trivial zeros are in the line Re(s) = 1/2. This is important because it humbles people without a very wierd Mathematical background, by informing them thre is such a this as trivial and non-trivial zeros. It may also get the Math guys some more girls.
  • by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 03, 2003 @11:53AM (#5424342)
    I think the proof itself would be easier to understand than this translation.
  • by tomzyk ( 158497 ) on Monday March 03, 2003 @11:56AM (#5424358) Journal
    whew. Well THAT explains THAT then!

    Honestly, you basically just translated that gobbledeegook from Latin to French for me. I still don't really understand what it all means, but I shall now do what I have done in the past for articles related to extremely complex mathematical hypothesis (hypothesese?)... I'll just nod my head, tell myself "Sure! But of course!" and move on to look for more "+5 Funny" comments.

    Then maybe get back to work too. :)
  • by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 03, 2003 @12:01PM (#5424397)
    "A proof of the Riemann's hypothesis (RH) about the non-trivial zeros of the Riemann zeta-function is presented. It is based on the construction of an infinite family of operators D^{(k,l)} in one dimension, and their respective eigenfunctions \psi_s (t), parameterized by continuous real indexes k and l. Orthogonality of the eigenfunctions is connected to the zeros of the Riemann zeta-function. Due to the fundamental Gauss-Jacobi relation and the Riemann fundamental relation Z (s') = Z (1-s'), one can show that there is a direct concatenation among the following symmetries, t goes to 1/t, s goes to \beta - s (\beta a real), and s' goes to 1 - s', which establishes a one-to-one correspondence between the label s of one orthogonal state to a unique vacuum state, and a zero s' of the \zeta. It is shown that the RH is a direct consequence of these symmetries, by arguing in particular that an exclusion of a continuum of the zeros of the Riemann zeta function results in the discrete set of the zeros located at the points s_n = 1/2 + i \lambda_n in the complex plane."

    That is the WORST pickup line I have ever heard.
  • by thatguywhoiam ( 524290 ) on Monday March 03, 2003 @12:02PM (#5424400)
    This [dgl.com] provides a pretty good layperson's overview of the problem, as well as why it's relevant.

    While the linked site does provide a layman's interpretation of the topic, when you first click to that page you are presented with:

    Two Plus Two Equals Four

    Thought we had all been trolled... :)

  • Quoi? Vous ne parlez pas francais?

    Ah, c'est une belle langue. vous devriez apprendre francais autrefois. ^_^

    (I know, it's an anglicism, but it's good enough.)
  • But.... (Score:3, Funny)

    by Eu4ria ( 110578 ) on Monday March 03, 2003 @12:10PM (#5424449)
    will this help me get higher frame rates in Doom III? If not then it is useless ;)

    Eu4ria
  • by Some Bitch ( 645438 ) on Monday March 03, 2003 @12:12PM (#5424461)
    We are going to show you beyond a shadow of a doubt that the non-trivial zeros of the zeta-function are of the form 1/2 +- i*theta_n.

    I was with you right up to the point where you started typing.

    To do this, we are going to use the operators D^{(k,1)} and their respective vectors \psi_s (t), such that using D^{(k,1)} on \psi_s (t) will produce k*(\psi_s (t)), where k is some non-zero constant. Unfortunately though, we have to show a way to product all of these operators. So the "construction of" the operators will be contained within the proof.

    ERROR: STACK OVERFLOW! SYSTEM POWERING DOWN...

  • by Powercntrl ( 458442 ) on Monday March 03, 2003 @12:13PM (#5424467) Homepage
    Will it lead the way to the return of an integer to represent your karma?
  • by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 03, 2003 @12:23PM (#5424548)
    (1.5*10^9 examples aren't often wrong)

    read the sales figures for pop albums.
  • by Axiom_1 ( 564687 ) on Monday March 03, 2003 @12:49PM (#5424735)

    Construction Worker Joe: I think the non-trivial zeros of the zeta-function are of the form 1/2 +- i*theta_n

    Construction Worker Larry: I agree. It's clear when you consider the operators D^{(k,1)} and their respective vectors \psi_s (t)

    Construction Worker Joe: Of course, so long as using D^{(k,1)} on \psi_s (t) will produce k*(\psi_s (t))

    Construction Worker Larry: Yeah. Joe, you'd better make sure the Eigenvectors of those two boards you're nailing together have a dot product of zero. The last time the boards weren't orthogonal, the boss had a fit!

    Construction Worker Joe: Yeah, whatever. Hey, check out that girl's hyperbolic curves!

  • by PurpleBob ( 63566 ) on Monday March 03, 2003 @12:56PM (#5424786)
    its luck is förknippad with primtalen.

    I suppose if I were about to win a million dollars, my luck would be förknippad with primtalen, too.
  • Re:um... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Strike ( 220532 ) on Monday March 03, 2003 @12:59PM (#5424811)
    Your comment is entirely orthogonal to the main story, please remain on topic.

    (/me lobbies for the changing of "Off-Topic" moderation to "Orthogonal to Topic")
  • by daeley ( 126313 ) on Monday March 03, 2003 @01:22PM (#5424951) Homepage
    Frink: Here is an ordinary square --

    Wiggum: Whoa, whoa, slow down, egghead.

    Frink: -- but suppose we extend the square beyond the two dimensions of our universe, along the hypothetical Z axis, there.

    Everyone: (gasps)

    Frink: This forms a three-dimensional object known as a "cube", or a "Frinkahedron" in honor of its discoverer.

    Homer: Help me! Are you helping me, or are you going on and on?

    Frink: Oh, right. And, of course, within, we find the doomed individual.
  • by peter_gzowski ( 465076 ) on Monday March 03, 2003 @01:31PM (#5425008) Homepage
    so there is certainly a possibility that this is a hoax, or a less than watertight proof.

    I read this as waterproof tights for some reason... had visions of Batman in a wetsuit.
  • by TheSHAD0W ( 258774 ) on Monday March 03, 2003 @01:40PM (#5425071) Homepage
    After reading the article [dgl.com], the solution looks pretty obvious.

    The Riemann hypothesis asserts that all interesting solutions of the equation z(s) = 0 lie on a straight line.

    Well, graphing s versus z(s), if z(s) is always zero, then obviously all values of s solving that equation lie on the s axis, which is a straight line. QED.

    Sheesh. That wasn't so hard.
  • by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 03, 2003 @01:55PM (#5425184)
    After reading your comment, I can tell you what a tit posts like.
  • by N8F8 ( 4562 ) on Monday March 03, 2003 @02:03PM (#5425254)
    The theorem is explained here [ou.edu] with pictures.
  • by jlcooke ( 50413 ) on Monday March 03, 2003 @02:34PM (#5425491) Homepage
    Construction Boss: cross product you moron! The dot product of zero between the nail and the board means you don't have a board, or you don't have a nail in which case I'll have to spring for workman's comp...but this is canada...so go for it!
  • by CarlDenny ( 415322 ) on Monday March 03, 2003 @04:13PM (#5426219)
    Construction worker Joe: Yes sir, of course sir.
    Construction Boss wanders off...
    Construction worker Larry: Stupid pointy haired fuck, doesn't know that the dot product of two perpendicular vectors is 0.
    Construction worker Joe: Yeah, hell, the fucking cross product isn't even a scalar!
    Construction worker Larry: (in a serious tone) Now be fair, he could have meant (snicker) the zero vector. (snicker)
    Construction worker Joe: (laughing) I suppose if I was sliding the nail along the stud.
    the scene devolves into derisive snickering.
  • Doctor Hibbert: Homer, I'm afraid you'll have to undergo a coronary bypass operation.

    Homer: Say it in English, Doc.

    Doctor Hibbert:You're going to need open-heart surgery.

    Homer: Spare me your medical mumbo-jumbo.

    Doctor Hibbert: We're going to cut you open and tinker with your ticker.

    Homer: Could you dumb it down a shade?
  • by mcg1969 ( 237263 ) on Monday March 03, 2003 @08:41PM (#5428860)
    Foreman: I didn't pay you to discuss the Riemann Hypothesis, I paid you to hammer some nails into some wood! Get back to work or you'll be begging for work at the local university again.
  • by 3waygeek ( 58990 ) on Monday March 03, 2003 @10:06PM (#5429525)
    Well, the NSA is about 200 years [milk.com] ahead of the rest of the world in mathematical theory.

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