Re: JSH: Fool all of the people, all of the time?

From: Jesse F. Hughes (jesse_at_phiwumbda.org)
Date: 12/05/04 

Date: Sun, 05 Dec 2004 15:18:35 +0100

jstevh@msn.com (James Harris) writes:

>> Newsflash!! People are asking questions!! Here's the commonest one:
>>
>> "What does 'properly a unit' mean?"
>>
>> Only you can answer.
>>
>
> That's an old game of trying to cause major arguments over the use of
> some term or other, as I now simply shift from usage that sci.math'ers
> find easily works to provoke confusion.

No one's asking what the conventional definition is. There isn't
one. We just want to know what *you* mean when you use the term,
since it apparently plays an important role in understanding the
"problem" with the algebraic integers.

You *do* mean *something* when you say such-and-such is "properly a
unit" (but not a unit in the algebraic integers), right? So *what* do
you mean?

Is there any non-zero complex number which is *not* "properly a unit"?
Is there any non-zero, non-integer in C which is *not* "properly a
unit"?

Note: An answer to the above two questions is nice, but it doesn't
settle the issue. What is the definition of "properly a unit"? 

-- 
"Yup, you guessed it.  If worse comes to worse, I *will* turn to the
Army to help me with mathematicians.  And then mathematicians don't
think the NSA or CIA can save your asses, as generals LIKE me."
  -- James Harris's latest foray into mathematical logic.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: JSH: Just plain silly
    ... >From: jstevh@msn.com (James Harris) ... >passed my result showing the problem with algebraic integers by ... He STILL replies if I email him too! ... >So what if there's this problem with how mathematicians understood ...
    (sci.math)
  • Re: JSH: Algebraic integers, a special case
    ... James Harris wrote: ... > ring of algebraic integers as though it MAY occur, mathematically, ... How about you look at my note to the editors, ... > mathematicians do not wish to acknowledge a correct result which might ...
    (sci.math)
  • Re: JSH: Too easy
    ... James Harris wrote: ... >Prime numbers don't mean shit to mathematicians, ... >cite an error in the paper, and those of you who attack it, like Hall, ... >had a circular argument as you people don't care about the truth. ...
    (sci.math)
  • Re: JSH: Challenge with DMESE, copy protection
    ... James Harris wrote: ... Mathematicians love simple solutions to problems when they ... Even if the original media are encrypted one needs software that ... unencrypted form to the user's hard drive? ...
    (sci.math)
  • Re: JH is just making fools out of you
    ... >countless hours wasted by many competent mathematicians in pointless ... with most posters on this newsgroup ... view James Harris as just another newsgroup ...
    (sci.math)