Computer Science/Discrete Mathematics Seminar II

To Check is To Know is To Prove

It has been checked, for zillions of even numbers, that they can all be expressed as a sum of two primes. It has also been checked for zillions of (non-trivial) zeros of Zeta(s), that their real parts are all equal to one half. Alas, these checks do not (yet) constitute a proof. But in many other analogous cases, such checks lead to fully rigorous proof, and there is always the low-budget option, of checking less, and settling for a semi-rigorous proof, since absolute certainty (like a Ferrari or a diamond ring) is an unnecessary luxury, whose only purpose is to cater to human vanity.

Date & Time

May 19, 2009 | 10:30am – 12:30pm

Location

S-101

Affiliation

Rutgers, The State University