Math Is Fun Forum

zehao1000

Member

Registered: 2012-11-16

Posts: 34

Re: Hello

Do you know this unproven theory?
Any even number can be writen as the sum of 2 primes, for example: 8=5+3, 16=7+9, mathematicians have calculated over 1 trillion even numbers and all have this property, this is unsolved, and has fascinated mathematicians.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Hello

Hi zehao1000;

Yes, it was formulated by Christian Goldbach and sent to Leonhard Euler. It is called the Goldbach conjecture.

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In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

Calligar

Member

Registered: 2011-09-24

Posts: 272

Re: Hello

Hi zehao1000,

welcome to the forum!

Very impressive for a 12 year old!  I also did not know this theory, it is definitely really interesting; I can definitely understand why mathematicians would be fascinated over it.

I personally wasn't a big fan of contests myself, not to mention I don't feel I was the most suitable back then.  I was in one math contest in my life, I actually moved on to um...I think they called it regionals (where the best from the different schools of the region compete to see who's the best), as only 2 from our school were allowed to move on.  In the regionals, only the best person moved on from there, and it wasn't me, but the other one from the my school.  I was very...ignorant back then, and regret that I put forth no effort into learning, as I probably could have moved on even further than that if I at least tried.  I honestly didn't even know anything about the contest I entered; my teacher was sharing it, I knew I was good at math, and figured it would be fun.

Though my own experience might have been more of a failure, if you love these contests, I encourage you to continue on.  If your dream is to make it to that point in the contest, then I strongly encourage you to do so!  I might not be very familiar with the contest you're interested in, but I'm pretty sure you have the potential.  Though, I would personally like to caution you on "bragging" about your own abilities too (like to your friends and stuff).  It can discourage those who otherwise would want to take up math later, even if you only joke around about it.  On top of that, it can show your own incompetence.

Anyway, after this long post, I know the next contest isn't anytime soon, but I wish you luck in it anyway!  Also, if you need help, there are plenty of mathematicians on this site that can help you.

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There are always other variables.  -[unknown]
But Nature flies from the infinite, for the infinite is unending or imperfect, and Nature ever seeks an end.  -Aristotle
Everything makes sense, one only needs to figure out how.  -[unknown]

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Hello

Hi zehao1000

Welcome to the forum!

Last edited by anonimnystefy (2012-11-16 19:59:36)

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“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,621

Re: Hello

hi zehao1000

And a very big welcome from me too.

Bob

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Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

zehao1000

Member

Registered: 2012-11-16

Posts: 34

Re: Hello

Thanks guys!:)

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Hello

Did you know that it has been proven for 3 primes?

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

zehao1000

Member

Registered: 2012-11-16

Posts: 34

Re: Hello

No, I got it from my math teacher, only know that it is for 2 primes, and I made a mistake, 9 is not prime from 9+7, it should be 11+5=16, but interesting fact anyways.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Hello

Hi;

That is the conjecture, it is for two primes. Over the years mathematicians have solved it for less and less primes in the hopes of taking the last step to two.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

zehao1000

Member

Registered: 2012-11-16

Posts: 34

Re: Hello

Well, I read the story about it a few hours ago so I know about it now, so it is 3 primes for any even greater than 5 and 2 for any even greater than 2.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Hello

Hi;

What were you reading?

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In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

zehao1000

Member

Registered: 2012-11-16

Posts: 34

Re: Hello

Wikipedia; but I'm just assuming they're correct, since I heard that wikipedia isn't always accurate.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Hello

That is true. Do you like number theory?

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In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

zehao1000

Member

Registered: 2012-11-16

Posts: 34

Re: Hello

It's pretty easy so yes, and I know a lot divisibility rules, but I'm better at geometry.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Hello

Hi;

Yes but do you like geometry the best of all?

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

zehao1000

Member

Registered: 2012-11-16

Posts: 34

Re: Hello

Geometry is easy, but logic problems are my favourite, for example, Einstein Riddles.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Hello

Hi;

What about probability and combinatorics for instance?

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In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

zehao1000

Member

Registered: 2012-11-16

Posts: 34

Re: Hello

Very bad at it such as those type of problems that state " in how many ways can you get from point A to point B?" or those types that are like "how many numbers between 1-1000 do not have 1 as a digit?" too many formulaes and comfuse them.

zehao1000

Member

Registered: 2012-11-16

Posts: 34

Re: Hello

And maybe we should stop this chat since it's reaching the 40th posts? Maybe just some random math problems instead of asking what's your favourite topic, because this is becoming attractive, which it should'nt be.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Hello

Hi;

Okay, post your problems but start a new thread.

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In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

zehao1000

Member

Registered: 2012-11-16

Posts: 34

Re: Hello

Okay, I'll post a random question somewhere else.(Don't need to reply, in fact no one should or else the whole process will repeat again.)