Re: Can't wait to tackle the Riemann Hypothesis

From: Earle Jones (earle.jones_at_comcast.net)
Date: 06/04/04 

Date: Fri, 04 Jun 2004 23:30:39 GMT

In article <gerry-C3B2AB.14531103062004@sunb.ocs.mq.edu.au>,
 Gerry Myerson <gerry@maths.mq.edi.ai.i2u4email> wrote:

> In article <200406030119.i531JOk01131@proapp.mathforum.org>,
> erdosfan@yahoo.com (erdos fan) wrote:
>
> > I know only the statement of the hypothesis. But would you think
> > it is possible for us to prove (or unfortunately disprove)
> > the hypothesis without revealing knowledge about primes?
>
> There are oodles of theorems that go, "If the Riemann Hypothesis is
> true then so is such and such an allegation about the primes,"
> and there are other theorems that go, "If the Riemann Hypothesis is
> false then so are such and such other allegations about primes,"
> so if you prove - or disprove - RH then like it or not you will have
> revealed information about the primes.

*
To you who "Can't wait to tackle the Riemann Hypothesis": I hope
you have a lot of time on your hands!

You might want to begin by reading "Prime Obsession" by John
Derbyshire. It is really two books in one. Odd numbered chapters
are about the history, the people, and the biography of Riemann.
Even numbered chapters are about the Riemann conjecture itself. The
non-mathematically inclined reader can read alternate chapters and
find a fascinating mystery. The mathematically inclined can read
the math chapters. I would recommend you read them all -- which is
what I did.

Here is another good read:

"The Millennium Problems: The Seven Greatest Unsolved Mathematical
Puzzles of Our Time" by Keith J. Devlin.

There are several other good books on the Riemann conjecture.

Good luck! Report back when you have solved the problem.

earle
* 

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          \/_/\_\     earle
             \/_/     jones

Relevant Pages

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  • Re: Cant wait to tackle the Riemann Hypothesis
    ... > erdosfan@yahoo.com (erdos fan) wrote: ... >There are oodles of theorems that go, "If the Riemann Hypothesis is ... >true then so is such and such an allegation about the primes," ...
    (sci.math)