Free Web NovelChapter 147: Chapter 138: No One Better Dare Disturb Me!
Princeton University is regarded as the ’Sanctuary of Mathematics’ in the academic world.
Uruz, working in this ’Sanctuary of Mathematics’, serves as a researcher at the Advanced Studies Institute, a full professor at Princeton, and also the lecturer in ’Number Theory’ for the Department of Mathematics.
Multiple positions put together tell you about Uruz’s capability.
Uruz has received many mathematics-related awards. Most of his achievements are in the field of complex mathematics, with a focus on simplifying complex mathematical calculations. But being able to serve as a lecturer in ’Number Theory’, he certainly has a certain level of competence in number theory.
A decade ago, Uruz, then in his thirties, dedicated himself to the study of prime number distribution, in the hope of solving challenges in number theory. His research on the intervals between prime numbers is regarded by many mathematicians as a step away from solving the twin prime number problem.
This is Uruz’s proudest achievement.
Decades later, Uruz understood the limitations of his talent. Realizing that solving number theory problems was simply too difficult, he reluctantly gave up and switched to complex mathematics research.
Uruz’s greatest regret is that he never managed to solve any number theory-related problems.
He is particularly sensitive to matters related to mathematical conjecture.
Upon hearing from Jody Williamson that the "Mathematics Society Magazine" had published the proof of the Hail Conjecture, Uruz didn’t even bother with his class. He picked up the magazine and began to read it intently, unknowingly making his way to the podium to continue studying the proof process.
Class was over.
The other students left the classroom laughing and chatting, leaving Jody Williamson somewhat awkwardly. He wanted his magazine back, but Professor Uruz was still reading intently.
Eventually, Jody Williamson simply gave up.
Uruz was indeed too engrossed, spending almost an hour reading. It was only when he heard the hustle and bustle around him that he raised his head to find the classroom full of students.
"Another class?"
Uruz felt a headache coming on. He managed to lecture for a while, but eventually lost patience. He simply told the students, "In the ’Mathematics Society Magazine’, there’s the proof of the Hail Conjecture. I’ve just been looking at it for a while. The proof method is really interesting. The most intriguing part is that it uses only basic formulas and methods. I suggest you take a look..."
"Now, self-study!"
"I’m sorry, I must go and study this paper!"
After saying a few words, Uruz rushed off. The students in the classroom, hearing the news, were eager to know who was subscribing to the "Mathematics Society Magazine".
The proof of the Hail Conjecture soon became a hit in the Mathematics Department at Princeton University. It wasn’t because the students of the department are highly proficient. After all, even students in the Mathematics Department of Princeton University are just undergraduates.
Although most students indeed have a talent for mathematics, due to their limited knowledge and lack of real research experience, they do not have a particularly high level of mathematical expertise.
The primary reason for this is that in Zhao Yi’s proof of the Hailstone Theorem, no advanced formulas or theorems were used, nor any complicated mathematical methods.
How intriguing!
Many mathematical conjecture proofs, or even adjacent research papers, often use advanced formulas or theorems, as well as intricate mathematical methods. They are all mind-boggling. Unless you’re of a ’Doctor of Mathematics’ level, understanding them is incredibly difficult.
Zhao Yi’s proof process for the Hailstone Theorem is more complicated in comparison. His paper spans nearly fifty pages, even after some steps have been simplified. However, ’complicated’ does not equate to sophisticated, allowing many undergraduate students in mathematics departments to comprehend it.
To be able to understand the proof of a mathematical conjecture gives the students a sense of achievement, thereby sparking greater interest in the research process.
The same thing is happening in many other places.
It is nighttime in China.
Zhao Yi noticed the email sent by the "Mathematics Society Magazine". He felt slightly excited, but the magazine had just been issued and it would take time for it to reach China.
He didn’t pay much attention to it.
When he returned home that day, he continued researching robot programming. Less than a month of research had already yielded quite promising results.
The robot ’learned’ to ’navigate’.
Once the map route coordinates are entered into the system, the robot can find its way autonomously. Moreover, it can adjust its route to avoid obstacles along the way.
This function might sound simple, but it took Zhao Yi a month to develop. He was learning and researching simultaneously, resulting in two research outcomes: one was enabling the robot to discern the length and size of objects in the moving images.
For example, when a robot looks at the floor, it can quickly calculate the side length of the floor tiles. When it sees a person, it can calculate the person’s height.
The other outcome is route navigation.
The method used by Zhao Yi started with color judgment. He simply equipped the robot with a camera. When the robot begins searching for a route, two images are displayed simultaneously, with the new camera aimed at the ground.
By comparing the colors of the ground and the objects directly in front of it, the robot can simply identify the ’road’.
In this way, it can easily avoid obstacles.
Of course.
Many times, the color of the road will change, so the robot has to rely on a second method. The robot will look to the left and right, using image color and object size to discern where the road is.
The navigation and obstacle-avoidance methods designed by Zhao Yi work most of the time. However, there are many potential issues, the key one being that the recognition methods are all inputted by him.
One’s energy is limited and can’t account for every circumstance. When a new situation arises, a new problem also arises.
This requires taking into account every situation and detailing program code accordingly.
Obviously.
This is a team’s job.
"Or... sell the design method and code? Then have a company help refine it?"
"Or collaborate with a professional laboratory?"
Zhao Yi thought carefully and felt the former option was more reliable.
If he went to a professional computer laboratory, contributing his code would just be a contribution. At most, he could pull in some investment sponsorship. In the end, he would still have to share the code with the investing company. Compared to that, selling the code directly, while specifying that he retains the rights to the final improved version, seemed like a better option.
After midnight.
The impact of the publication of the proof of the Hail Conjecture by the "Mathematics Society Magazine" started to show.
The proof of each mathematical conjecture would generate a great deal of attention. News of it spread through overseas media, quickly reaching domestic shores.
The "Mathematics Society Magazine" doesn’t have an online version, which means the actual proof can only be accessed through the physical publication. It might not be easy for domestic audiences to see the proof, but it did not prevent them from noting the foreign media’s reports.
News started making rounds in the domestic network almost instantly--
"The Collatz Conjecture has been proven! It’s in the ’Mathematics Society Magazine’, one of the top four mathematical journal giants!"
"It’s really been proven; it’s being reported overseas as well!"
"Who proved it?"
"Zhao Yi!" freёweɓnovel.com
"That’s the genius high school student who claimed he had proven the Collatz Conjecture during his talk a while ago!"
"Zhao Yi is truly a genius. First, he came up with a computer algorithm that’s hard to understand, solved the Rubik’s cube step calculation issue and then he cracked the Collatz Conjecture..."
"I recall someone saying last month that Zhao Yi doesn’t understand mathematics!"
"The person who solved a global math problem doesn’t understand math? Hahaha..."
While the online buzz might not affect the person being talked about, those who knew Zhao Yi also noticed the news.
The first one to notice was Li Lisheng.
Li Lisheng, who spent a lot of time on forums, couldn’t sleep after doing his daily chores. So, he decided to sit in front of his computer for an online piano duel, only to stumble onto the trending news--
Chinese high school student proves Collatz Conjecture!
"Collatz Conjecture? Yes, I seem to recall, it was Zhao Yi, the high school student?" Li Lisheng promptly revisited his memory, and went straight to look up the news.
Zhao Yi!
It really is Zhao Yi!
He has solved the decades-old mathematical problem – the Collatz Conjecture!
Upon this realization, Li Lisheng was immediately thrilled. He quickly made a post on the forum, "Now when I say I am a teacher from Zhengyang No.13 Middle School, no one will question that, right?"
"Breaking news: My best student, Zhao Yi, just solved the global mathematical problem known as ’Collatz Conjecture’. I’m eagerly awaiting everyone’s congratulatory messages!"
With a satisfied smile on his face, Li Lisheng suddenly remembered to mass message the news to everyone he knew.
The time, doesn’t matter!
Zhao Yi, a student at the No.13 Middle School, has cracked a global math problem; who cares if it’s in the middle of the night?
Li Lisheng picked up his phone and messaged all the teachers and the Principal about the situation.
Next, he called Zhao Yi.
Doing the same was Xu Chao from the lab. With no sense of time due to his research work, Xu Chao thought of a good method and kept on modifying the code in the lab.
After finishing his work and brewing a cup of coffee, he sat in front of the computer to browse the news.
What?
Zhao Yi proved the Collatz Conjecture?
Xu Chao widened his eyes in shock, checked the news timestamp, and immediately called Zhao Yi.
In the middle of the night?
Doesn’t matter!
Zhao Yi who had just fallen asleep was awoken by Li Lisheng’s call, "Teacher Li? Calling so late..."
"Zhao Yi! What sleep! Wake up and check the news, you proved the Collatz Conjecture!"
Li Lisheng’s voice was louder, sounding even more excited than Zhao Yi.
A bit annoyed, Zhao Yi said, "I know."
"You know?" Li Lisheng was a bit surprised.
Zhao Yi replied indifferently, "Teacher Li, this isn’t like winning the lottery, it’s not a live drawing show. I submitted my work a month ago and got an acceptance email yesterday, of course I know."
"True that! Haha..."
Li Lisheng laughed awkwardly, and after congratulating him a few times, hung up.
Zhao Yi wanted to sit up but felt too tired, so he decided to go back to sleep. In his dream, a mischievous girl appeared. She was sticking out her tongue and licking her lips...
"Buzz Buzz Buzz..."
The phone vibrated.
Groggily grabbing the phone, Zhao Yi found that it was Xu Chao and answered the call.
Xu Chao’s voice was also a bit excited, but he was much calmer than Li Lisheng, "Congratulations, Zhao Yi, your paper was published in the ’Mathematics Society Magazine’."
"Thank you!"
Zhao Yi chatted with Xu Chao for a bit, then tranquilly went back to sleep. After a while, he was dreaming about this really cute girl looking shyly at him.
He reached out his hand to her....
"Buzz Buzz Buzz..."
Vibration.
In a daze, Zhao Yi glanced at the screen and saw it was Principal Wang Chengmin. He took a deep breath, switched his phone to silent, and tossed it away.
For fuck’s sake!
Doesn’t anyone know it’s the middle of the night!
Time to sleep!
No one better disturb me!
