A Beautiful Mind: Jennifer Connelly's Puzzle Problem

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a math problem presented in the film "A Beautiful Mind," specifically the puzzle that Jennifer Connelly's character attempts to solve. Participants express curiosity about the nature of the problem, its mathematical components, and its representation in the film.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Homework-related
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a desire to understand the specific math problem that is featured in the film.
  • Another participant mentions a similar interest in a math problem from "Good Will Hunting," suggesting a potential overlap in themes.
  • A participant lists specific mathematical tasks related to the problem, including finding the adjacency matrix and generating functions for walks.
  • One participant requests clarification on the mathematical terms used, indicating a need for more accessible explanations.
  • A participant admits to having limited math knowledge but shares a resource related to adjacency matrices, while also suggesting that the film may have misrepresented the solvability of the problem.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on the specifics of the math problem or its representation in the film. Participants express varying levels of familiarity with the topic, and some suggest that the film's portrayal may be incorrect.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not reached a shared understanding of the mathematical concepts involved, and there are indications of differing interpretations of the problem's solvability as presented in the film.

Jeff Ford
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I know, I'm years behind the rest of the world, but I just saw this for the first time. I've been wondering what the problem is he writes on the board that Jennifer Connelly tries to solve.
 
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Sorry, I've never seen the movie, but someone told me I needed to watch it!
 
I want to know what the math problem in Good will hunting that the main character solves is.
 
Smurf said:
I want to know what the math problem in Good will hunting that the main character solves is.
Find
1) the adjacency matrix A
2) the matrix giving the number of three step walks
3) the generation function for walks from i -> j
4) the generation function for walks from 1 -> 3
 
Last edited:
Okay you're going to have to explain that in (just a few) more words...
 
I`d like to be able to help but my maths knowledge is very poor!
I know what the question is, as i asked myself the same question you did? but i don`t know how to solve it:confused:
try this for some more info
http://mathworld.wolfram.com/AdjacencyMatrix.html

oh and it is solvable the film got it wrong.
 
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