The Man Who Knew Infinity

While in the course of learning Number Theory in MA4263, I gradually grew interest in this area of Mathematics. Through the course, Prof Chan told us many stories of famous mathematicians he has met before and stories of great mathematicians in Number Theory. There's G.H. Hardy, dela Valle Poisson, Hadarmard, Selberg, Paul Erdos, Adolf J. Hildebrand and others whom I can't recall their names. But of all, S. Ramanujan had very interesting stories about his life in becoming the greatest mathematician India has ever produced.

Overview:
Ramanujan was born in India with no proper education degree as he never manage to pass any school exams. His main interest was in mathematics, neglecting all other subjects. His only activity is sitting somewhere comfortable with his slate and pencil and noisy writings on his slate as he drift away in this mathematical thoughts. From young, Ramanujan came up with many mathematical 'results' on his own (some of which were already been found ages ago in the western part of the world while some became very interesting results as found by other mathematicians later). With no proper training in mathematics, Ramanujan did not know where he was right or wrong in his mathematical arguments. Neither did he know that some of the results which he found out by himself were already made know in the western countries.

Ramanujan tried very hard to approach many significant people in his hometown to help get his mathematics works recognised but no one could help him. It was until a letter from Ramanujan to a mathematician in Cambridge, G.H. Hardy, in which Ramanujan sort to seek help from freed up Ramanujan's mind to wonder freely into mathematics. Hardy felt that Ramanujan was a gem which has not been excavated.


Ramanujan gradually grew recognition when he went over to Cambridge to work on his notebook (which contains all the results he found) with Hardy. The results of this genius was widely spread amgonst the mathematicians in Cambridge and back in India. But Ramanujan's health took the plunge in Cambridge as the WWI came due to his strict vegetarian diet and long work whole day long with no one to take care of him.


Ramanujan died at the age of 33 due to tubercolosis.

The elmo thing you see there is acutally my bookmark.

It's so sad that such a genius man in mathematics died young.
One famous result from him is the Hardy-Ramanujan number: 1729
While sick in the hospital bed, Ramanujan could still explain the number which Hardy told him about the taxi having such a boring number plate.
It is the smallest number which can be expressed as a sum of 2 cube in two different ways.

Go borrow the book if you are interested.
I'm almost finishing mine.

Elmo zooms in to keep your spot,
Peiyan

Sushi Buffet

I've finished my last paper this morning.

The paper was bad to the extend that don't think anyone managed to complete the whole paper.
Out of 12 questions, I managed to complete 8+ questions within the 2 hours period.
And the last test question came out again and I couldn't complete the whole question.
*Damn*
The regular surface was another problem as the function was rather disgusting to get numercial values of x, y and z.


With the end of the last paper, I end my exams in NUS.
Jeanbean called me suddenly at about 3.45pm, asking me if I want to go and eat sushi buffet.
I joined him with 2 other malaysian friends at Sakae Sushi at Harborfront.
We could order anything on the menu as long as it cost $2.29.
No red plate from the sushi belt (which are tempting to go round and round pass our table).
Seriously, I think the sushi we ordered are much better in taste than those on the sushi belt.
Don't even know how long the sushi have been going round the belt.
The soft shell crab handroll was nice.
The fried tofu was delicious.

Jeanbean with mouth full posing with the 46 plates.

Aftermath of the sushi buffet.

Jeanbean and Thomas.

In total on the table, we cleared 46 plates.
But in actual fact, it should be more than 46 plates bcos they combine the plates for some of the orders.
Dessert was black sesame mochi ice-cream and watermelon.
For normal sushi, Sakae is ok.


*burp*,
Peiyan

Another shipment has arrived

My second shipment for the books I've order on Amazon has arrived.
This is book 3 out of the 3 books I ordered.
The other 2 books were shipped out earlier.
The book came in a cupboard cardboard wrap form since it was just one book.
It was quite interesting to see how the books are being shipped to my house from US.

My book wrapped in a cupboard cardboard envelope.

Behind the parcel, I'm suppose to tear the tab to open.
(I shot this after I tore it.)
Pull tab to open.

The book is nicely kepy in place within the perfect fit of the cupboard cardboard envelope.

Book 3: Intro. to Analytic and Probabilistic Number Theory by Gerald Tenenbaum.

The hardcover book is the glossy cover which all the hardcover books now are.
The one I borrowed from the library was an old copy (i think).
Thought it is also hardcover, but the material was more cloth-like kind.
It's nice to hold and has those old book kind of sound.
hahaha...

More number theory to come,
Peiyan

Mugging

Its the most stress period of the semester.
Exam time!!!!
As usual for this year, I ask for permission to study in the NUSPS darkroom.
I've only got 3 papers to sit for and the dates are rather spread out, allowing me to concentrate on one module each time.

And so,the hardworking me, trying to do well in Number Theory, found a few useful books in the library and borrowed them, 2 of which were renewed books.
And now I renew all the borrowed books again as the due date was 2 days before my paper.
*sheeze*

The top 4 books are for MA4263: Intro to Analytic Number Theory
While the green book at the bottom is for MA3215: Differential Geometry

All nicely stacked up.

Book call number.
(is that what you call them? I can't remember)

Number Theory!!!

Hoping to ace the Number Theory paper,

Peiyan

Joyous delight

I reached home to find a delight on my table.
My orders from Amazon has arrived early.
Maybe it's the indication that they want me to do well in the Number Theory paper.
I order 2 books on Number Theory out of which, 2 were shipped out first.
From the status at Amazon, it's stated that the shipment will arrive sometime in mid May, which by that time, my exams have ended long ago.
So I thought that I'll get the book as my further reading purpose on my new interest in Number Theory.

But the parcel on my table brought joy for my Number Theory paper coming in 5 days' time.

Very light box to my surprise on my table.

Here it goes... I'm opening it.

Ta-da!!!

Wrapped together to prevent damages.

Book 1: Introduction to Analytic Number Theory by Tom M. Apostol

Book 2.

The second book is too difficult for me to understand.
But nevermind, I shall try to understand it one day.

Yippee and enjoying Number Theory,

Peiyan