“The world, for years, had been waiting for a solution for the most difficult problem in mathematics. Termed as the millennium problem by the Clay Mathematical Institute, it challenged the world’s best brains.”
This is a bit overly dramatic since there are actually six more so called ‘millenium problems’ to solve.
Anyway I enjoyed the read and learned something new about this fabulous achievement.
"The Banach–Tarski paradox [...] states the following: Given a solid ball in three-dimensional space, there exists a decomposition of the ball into a finite number of disjoint subsets, which can then be put back together in a different way to yield two identical copies of the original ball."
I imagine he would find that hypocritical. Not quite the same scenario, but I'm reminded of "Thank You For Smoking" where the Marlboro Man (Lorne Lutch) is suing the tobacco company:
Lorne Lutch: [in his home] Weren't you on that show?
Nick Naylor: Yeah it was me
Lorne Lutch: You're lucky you made it out of there alive
Nick Naylor: Tobacco used to be all over the television, now TV's leading the witch hunt.
Lorne Lutch: Strange business, last year when after I was diagnosed I attended the annual stock holder's convention I stood up and told them I think they should cut back on their advertising you know what your boss said to me? He said "we're certainly sorry to hear about your medical problem until we know more about your medical history we can't comment further", then they tried to pretend I never worked for them, I got the pay stubs hell, I was on the damn bill boards I suppose we all got to pay the mortgage so you're here to talk me into shutting up?
Nick Naylor: Yeah basically, no not "basically" that's exactly it
Lorne Lutch: My dignity isn't for sale
Nick Naylor: It's not an offer, it's a gift the taxes have all been paid you get to keep it no matter what you do, the idea is your guilt will prevent you from bad mouthing us
Lorne Lutch: Are you supposed to be telling me all that?
Nick Naylor: No sir, just apologize give you the money and leave
Lorne Lutch: Why are you telling me this?
Nick Naylor: Because this way you'll take the money
Lorne Lutch: Why would I do that?
Nick Naylor: Because you're mad
Lorne Lutch: Damn straight I am
Lorne Lutch: [Referring to the money] what am I going to do with it?
Nick Naylor: Donate it, yeah start the Lower Less Cancer Foundation
Lorne Lutch: Wait a minute, what about my family?
Nick Naylor: You can't keep the money
Lorne Lutch: Why the hell not?
Nick Naylor: Denounce us and keep the blood money?
Lorne Lutch: I've got to think this over
Nick Naylor: News doesn't work that way you can't denounce us next week
Lorne Lutch: I don't suppose I can denounce you for half of it
Nick Naylor: No, you either keep all the money or give it all away
This is a bit overly dramatic since there are actually six more so called ‘millenium problems’ to solve. Anyway I enjoyed the read and learned something new about this fabulous achievement.