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Mathematicians unlock major number theory puzzle

physorg.com — Mathematicians have finally laid to rest the legendary mystery surrounding an elusive group of numerical expressions known as the "mock theta functions." Number theorists have struggled to understand the functions ever since the great Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan first alluded to them in a letter written on his deathbed, in 1920.

Who dugg this? Made popular Feb 28, 2007

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  • Urusai, on 10/12/2007, -2/+82From Wikipedia:

    "(mock theta functions) ... have asymptotic expansions at cusps of the modular group, acting on the upper half plane, that resemble those of modular forms of weight 1/2 with poles at the cusps."

    Wow, that clears it right the ***** up.
  • Satanael, on 10/12/2007, -4/+38Mock Theta Functions = Aaaaagghhhhh, HULK SMASH!
  • jamauss, on 10/12/2007, -0/+26very frustrated by the lack of details in the article.
  • evileyetmc, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11I agree, there is really nothing concrete in the article...that's what Wikipedia is for:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mock_theta_functions

  • seventoes, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11It means "Take an advanced math class"
  • intlbeans, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Just the fact that there even IS an article on Wikipedia about this stuff blows my mind...
  • alpinestarless, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9It means stay in school.
  • laplacian, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7hmm... that wikipedia article is basically just a copy of the mathworld article.
  • cjh24, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7I prefer "Genuine Theta Functions", I find the artificial type leave a waxy coating on my mouth.
  • Prototek, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Another info source.
    http://mathworld.wolfram.com/MockThetaFunction.html

    But don't honestly expect to understand anything about these functions unless you're in very advanced math, which I'm not.
  • BabyBrumak, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Taking an advanced math class isn't enough by a long shot. I would advise staying away from higher mathematics like this unless you want to go insane. I'm being serious here. Mathematics grad students have the highest suicide rate of any field and mathematicians in general tend to have severe mental problems. I know several and my aunt is a pyschiatrist who deals with these people daily.
  • krellor, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Mock Theta Functions for dummies?
  • Harbinger67, on 10/12/2007, -4/+9Things like this need a short: "Why normal people should care" blurb at the end of the article.
  • gllen, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Simple mock theta formula:

    (A + h) * 0.001 = u

    A=Diggs
    h=Comments
    u=People on digg that understand WTF this article is about
  • transeunte, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I love how people on Digg fight over ANYTHING. Clearly, that's what the Internet is all about: pr0n and fights.
  • iNaya, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I hope this solves some real-world technological problem one day, but it sure blows my mind, for now.
  • Harabeck, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Technically all capacitors are flux capacitors.
  • vdog, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Mock Theta Functions?

    They're ugly and their mother dresses them funny.
  • laplacian, on 10/12/2007, -5/+8@Trial- You're kidding yourself
    @Harbinger- there's no reason for a "normal" person to care at all about this at all, unless they happen to like math
    @Kutza- I thought the same thing reading your comment


  • Chubbly, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5@Erulabs

    You're an idiot. I'd say most people wouldn't understand 99% of how stuff in their house works, let alone high level maths. As for the whole "major" thing, there are more examples of methods developed for something that others have found useful for their own study. Calculus?
  • zionKing, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4@soogy Hey bud, I don't know about you, but if I can't *be* smart I wanna damn well *feel* smart. So I'm all for candy-assed summaries of impossibly arcane topics like mock the.... uh what were we talking about again??
  • dacheetah, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3@BabyBrumak:
    You might have made the causation/correlation mistake here. I suspect that it's not the maths that makes them insane, but the insanity that makes them do maths. And now that you mention it, everyone I know who is SCARY good at maths, is quite insane. But then, by normal standards, I'm not exactly the picture of sanity either, and I can't stand university maths. (Although, it's more the "You must not only understand, but remember EVERY TINY DETAIL of this" attitude they have. Give me an open book exam, and suddenly it's a much nicer subject. I may have memory problems, but I don't remember forgetting anything recently...)
  • miles01110, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@Harbinger

    That implies that mathematicians and by extension all scientists are doing their work for the sake of the general public, which is decidedly incorrect.

    Pure science aims to explain the laws of nature using mathematics, not to make your life longer, more pleasant, or more meaningful. It's also an elitist community, if you don't understand or care about it then you are not the intended audience.
  • miles01110, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3"Nothing is THAT complex"

    You have nooooo idea.
  • soogy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Why? It would be useless to you either way. For some basic, yet advanced topics (particularly for the sciences), Wikipedia has "Introduction to ..." articles. For example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introduction_to_evolution is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution for dummies.

    Now, tell me, why on earth would a simplified article about mock theta functions be helpful to anyone? Only advanced mathematicians would be interested in researching the subject (because anyone else would have an extremely hard time comprehending the calculations), and if you were an advanced mathematician, you wouldn't need an introductory article.
  • bliz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2well, you can still choose to read up on mathematics in your free time (assuming you have)

    i feel that this book is a pretty good introduction
    http://www.amazon.com/What-Mathematics-Elementary-Approach-Paperbacks/dp/0195105192

    but of course if you just want to indulge in marvelling at the wonder of mathematics you can get those books which is to mathematics what the brief history of time is to physics

    here's an interesting page for maths:
    http://www.cut-the-knot.org/index.shtml
    :)
  • nathanwalker, on 01/19/2009, -0/+1whoa

    http://mathworld.wolfram.com/MockThetaFunction.htm ...
  • bflfab, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1physorg is usually pretty sparing on the details. Frequently they write about journal articles that cost money. Half the time I try to look up real details I end up pissed off by the teaser.

  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Ok great, how can we use this to watch more online porn?
  • miles01110, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Actually the wikipedia article is quite explanatory for those who know the concepts and notation used, which obviously you do not.
  • polyGone, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2It's responsible for bringing us the electric can opener. jeez.
  • jonathono2000, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Ok, I don't get it, but will it make cool shapes if I put it into Grapher on my Mac?
  • miles01110, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2You know, people asked the same thing when the semiconductor was developed.
  • verstohlen, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Does this mean they can finally build a Flux Capacitor?
  • Sepeteus, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2I asked an honest question and I get dugg down...

    "You know, people asked the same thing when the semiconductor was developed."

    People are smart. If no one would've asked the question then it would be just a meaningless invention without a purpose.
    Scientist1: During our research I accidentally invented this thing I call a semiconductor.
    Scientist2: That's wonderful. Let's not think of any use for it and continue our research.
  • verstohlen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Yeah, that must explain why Doc Brown differentiated his flux capacitor from regular flux capacitors by calling it a flux capacitor.
  • EruLabs, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4What are school-minded people worth to society if they don't 'dumb' it down, or simplify it for the masses? That is the point of wasting your time thinking about mathematical formula, to change the world, or to change something. If its only worth something to arcane mathematicians, id say it isn't a 'major' breakthrough at all. Major would imply it effects something other than itself.
  • xabstract, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3I say you call in rain-man for these type of things
  • EruLabs, on 10/12/2007, -6/+5@BabyBrumak:

    That is so true. Ive met a few Ph.Ds in theoretical mathematics, and yes, they're brilliantly off-the-wall insane. I believe there is nothing in the universe that has anything more than a simple explanation, and I would really like to have an expert explain it in a way some of us can comprehend - Nothing is THAT complex - the second you believe that, science becomes religion, Plato knew that, Kant knew that, we all know that.
  • SargedeathXmode, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1The article sucked cause didn't explain crap. Wikipedia sucked cause it can't explain crap... anybody feel that they're mocking us saying "ordinary" and "pretty"?

    oh dang it, i'm going into theoretical math... jk, this stuff is probably going to be awesome once i know enough in a few years of college math...
  • Blade0rz, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1That's what I want to know....

    All these people asking for simplified explainations - all I want to know is "How will this benefit me?" :)
  • Sepeteus, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2What does the mankind benefit from this?
  • ScottoGato, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1This is absolute blasphemy! Do not be swayed by the devil's work. Mock Theta Functions are the key to unlocking Satan's DNA!
  • Matunga, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0I got it, i think that it is an Iphone Killer Function....
  • sniegas, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0Exactly. I believe, this should not be on the front page - no one actually needs it.
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -7/+4articles in general ***** suck, who likes to read anyway, video can barely hold my concentration
  • aznmikex215, on 10/12/2007, -4/+142?!?!1 You must be kidding.

    .... The answer is obviously 23 ....
  • geonlab, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1Don't worry so, numbers are an illusion, they are not real :-)
  • edfx, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2FINALLY they solve it!! Geez.. what took them soo looooong???
  • thehoodie, on 10/12/2007, -6/+2What the hell does any of this mean....
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