Can the Sum of Natural Numbers Really Be -1/12?

In summary, a professor at Cambridge University has presented a proof that the sum of natural numbers is equal to -1/12. Although the method used may seem unconventional, it could potentially lead to a new mathematical model for expressing infinity in a finite way. This proof has implications for modern problems in physics and other fields.
  • #1
Brucezhou
18
0
A professor in Cambridge University has showed his proof that the sum of natural number was equal to -1/12. The video can be found on the internet.Well, although the way to proof I think is really ridiculous, it could be a good way to building a new math model. Since we think the sum of natural number is infinity, but that professor proved it equal to a finite number, so maybe this model can express infinity in finite way. Finally, a lot of modern problems about physics and many other fields.
 
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  • #2
I am closing this thread because there's an ongoing thread on this very topic. See [thread]732197[/thread].
 

What is the sum of natural numbers?

The sum of natural numbers is the result of adding all the numbers from 1 to a given number. For example, the sum of natural numbers up to 5 would be 1+2+3+4+5 = 15.

What is the formula for finding the sum of natural numbers?

The formula for finding the sum of natural numbers is n(n+1)/2, where n is the given number. For example, the sum of natural numbers up to 5 would be (5*6)/2 = 15.

What is the difference between the sum of even numbers and the sum of odd numbers?

The sum of even numbers is the result of adding only even numbers, while the sum of odd numbers is the result of adding only odd numbers. For example, the sum of even numbers up to 5 would be 2+4 = 6, while the sum of odd numbers up to 5 would be 1+3+5 = 9.

What is the sum of natural numbers up to 100?

The sum of natural numbers up to 100 is 5050.

Why is the sum of natural numbers important in mathematics?

The sum of natural numbers is important in mathematics because it helps in understanding patterns and relationships between numbers. It also has various applications in fields such as calculus, statistics, and number theory.

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