Contribute to McGill's "Crossnumbers" Math Magazine!

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Dragonfall
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    Interesting Numbers
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the creation of an undergraduate math magazine at McGill University, specifically focusing on a section called 'Crossnumbers' that features interesting integers and their properties. Participants are encouraged to contribute ideas and numbers for this section.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses interest in contributing to the magazine and shares examples of interesting integers along with their properties.
  • Another participant inquires about the publication status of the magazine.
  • A participant challenges the claim that 1729 is the smallest integer expressible as the sum of two cubes in two different ways, suggesting that 0 and -1729 also meet this criterion.
  • There is a discussion about the concept of "non-interesting" numbers, with one participant questioning the existence of such numbers.
  • Another participant argues that the smallest non-interesting number is interesting by virtue of its uniqueness.
  • A later reply confirms that the magazine will be published and distributed for free to McGill students.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the definition of "interesting" numbers, with differing views on the existence of non-interesting numbers and the properties of integers like 1729.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes varying definitions of "interesting" and "non-interesting" numbers, which may depend on subjective interpretations and specific mathematical properties. The challenge to the claim regarding 1729 introduces ambiguity regarding the criteria for "smallest" in this context.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in recreational mathematics, number theory, or contributions to academic publications may find this discussion relevant.

Dragonfall
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This is probably in the wrong section. Anyway, McGill's starting an 'undergrad math magazine' in which I want to contribute a little something I came up called 'Crossnumbers' in its recreation section. The idea is really self-explanatory. I've come up with a few 'interesting' integers already, but if you can think up of something, please contribute! :smile:

The numbers are to be filled in. The clues are on the right. For example:

999999: The Feynman Point

1729: Smallest integer expressible as the sum of two cubes in two different ways

762: The position in the decimal expansion of a certain number at which the Feynman point occurs

4294967297: First non-prime Fermat number

7427466391: First ten-digit prime in the decimal expansion of e

etc.
 
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Sounds like fun. Is this going to be a published magazine?
 
1729: Smallest integer expressible as the sum of two cubes in two different ways
Not true! 0 is expressible as the sum of 2 cubes in 2 different ways, as is -1729, and... :wink:
 
Ah... but what is the smallest positive non-interesting number?
 
Come, we all know there is no such thing.
 
Since the fact that it was the smallest non-interesting number makes it "interesting". (Where "interesting" is defined as "having a property no other number has".)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
It'll be published and given away for free, for McGill students anyway.
 

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