Greatest mathematician of the 20th century

[micromass]

Inspired by the other poll on the physicists, I decided to make a poll on the best mathematician of the 20the century. Only a bit more serious...

Now, since you can only select 20 poll options, it was inevitable that some great minds were left out. I tried to include as many disciplines as possible and I tried to include some popular names.

 

[jhae2.718]

The Mythbusters, duh. They have the most results...



Godel votes for whomever is not on your list.

Of course, this implies that mathematicians can be great...

 

[Triple_D]

I vote for whoever can definitively settle this dispute.

 

[jhae2.718]

Never bring that thread up again, lest that whole mess get started anew...

 

[micromass]

I vote for whoever can definitively settle this dispute.

I really don't understand why people are arguing about the silly thing...

 

[jhae2.718]

I really don't understand why people are arguing about the silly thing...

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[Triple_D]

Perhaps the greatest physicist could settle the DDWFTTW thread.

Yeah, I know...I shouldn't have brought that one up either. But sometimes I just can't help myself.

 

[jhae2.718]

Or the "If your so smart" thread in general physics...

 

[gb7nash]

Oh the irony

 

[jhae2.718]

Homework help has been infected with the [censored] equation disease: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=492181

 

[gb7nash]

I contributed a little to that thread (I think) but people keep making new threads. It won't die.

 

[turbo]

I have go with Mythbusters. How many of those other posers had TV shows? ;:-)

 

[rootX]

It's like apples and oranges .. I don't know how you can tell this mathematician is greater than that mathematician.

I am math illiterate and I don't watch Mythbusters so I cannot pick any!

 

[jhae2.718]

Ooh, let's send

Spoiler

48/2(9+3)

into the Mythbusters!

 

[FtlIsAwesome]

I really don't understand why people are arguing about the silly thing...

I will attempt to explain:
Side 1 "We're right they're wrong!"
Side 2 "We're right they're wrong!"

 

[micromass]

I will attempt to explain:
Side 1 "We're right they're wrong!"
Side 2 "We're right they're wrong!"

It's more like

Side 1 "These are the mathematical rules which we have worked with for centuries"
Side 2 "Screw the rules, I want implicit multiplication, whatever it means"

 

[FtlIsAwesome]

It's more like

Side 1 "These are the mathematical rules which we have worked with for centuries"
Side 2 "Screw the rules, I want implicit multiplication, whatever it means"

Don't push me!
I'm trying to stay neutral/unknown on the subject.

 

[Ryumast3r]

Mythbusters are clearly the right choice on this subject.

 

[pergradus]

The greatest mathematician is the one who gets the most votes.

I am voting for the greatest mathematician.

Therefore I am voting for the mathematician with the most votes.

However, to begin each mathematician has zero votes, and so I can never make a choice.

Therefore there is no greatest mathematician.

(i know that was really really weak but I'm not as clever as some of you )

 

[jhae2.718]

If we go by number of papers published, the answer is clear...

 

[SamirS]

If we go by number of papers published, the answer is clear...

I foresee a discussion about who's more important - theory-builders or problem-solvers...

I took the question as "greatest mathematician by natural ability (or talent)" and therefore voted Ramanujan. Unthinkable what he could have done if he'd stayed alive longer.

Of mathematician who actually lived to do their work, without a doubt in my mind, it's Hilbert, not least because of his impact on physics (while not actually being one).