Who is your Favorite Fictional Mathematician?

  • Thread starter Thread starter BenVitale
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Mathematician
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on favorite fictional mathematicians, with participants sharing their top picks from a diverse list that includes characters like Will Hunting from "Good Will Hunting," Charlie Eppes from "Numb3rs," and Dr. Ian Malcolm from "Jurassic Park." Charlie Eppes emerges as a popular choice, praised for his application of mathematics in solving crimes. The conversation also touches on the distinction between pure and applied mathematicians, with some questioning the inclusion of certain characters like Zane Donovan from "Eureka," who is more of a theoretical physicist. Participants express interest in related media, such as "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," discussing the merits of the book versus the movie adaptation. The thread highlights a blend of admiration for fictional portrayals of mathematicians and playful critiques of the poll's character selections.
BenVitale
Messages
72
Reaction score
1
Who is your Favorite Fictional Mathematician?

http://polldaddy.com/poll/3141175/

(1) Will Hunting(Good Will Hunting)
(2) Charlie Eppes (Numb3rs)
(3) Dr Ian Malcom (Jurassic Park)
(4) The Calculator (Comic Book Villain)
(5) The Riddler/Edward Nigma (Batman)
(6) Raymond Babbit (Rain Man)
(7) Professor Moriarty (Sherlock Holmes)
(8) Professor Calculus (Tintin)
(9) Jack Bristow (Alias)
(10) Le Chiffre (Casino Royale)
(11) Dexter (Dexter’s Lab)
(12) Zane Donovan (Eureka)
(13) Eddie Lawson (Waterloo Road)
(14) Trillian Astra (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy)
(15) Other

My favorite is Charlie Eppes (Numb3rs), what's yours?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The fictional John Nash in a beautiful mind. yes people will hate me.
 
Gwyneth Paltrow from Proof, she's not only hot but also solved Riemann's hypothesis.
 
That brings up a good question did they have any in star trek? Or did computers solve all math problems by that time?

Hurm... Ya I'll go with data from star trek. The rest of the crew would be like we'll never figure out that "math" problem in time and he just spouts out the answer :)
 
Mu naught said:
The fictional John Nash in a beautiful mind. yes people will hate me.

Wouldn't "fictional mathematicians" describe pure mathematicians as opposed to applied ones?
 
If that's the case his whole list is out the window..
 
arrrgh, I voted for Charlie before I saw that you had Zane on that list :eek: Although to be fair, Zane is a theoretical physicist and computer programmer/hacker, not really a mathematician.
 
Pinu7 said:
Wouldn't "fictional mathematicians" describe pure mathematicians as opposed to applied ones?

Yet you don't have a problem with a cartoon character who has a secret lab in his parents house?

[PLAIN]http://raoworld.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/facepalm.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
hmmm I guess I'd have to go with charlie
 
  • #10
Trillian.
 
  • #11
Should I try to read the book or watch the movie? I haven't yet sadly :(
 
  • #12
magpies said:
Should I try to read the book or watch the movie? I haven't yet sadly :(

Hitchhikers Guide? It is really quite good. If you like Monty Python figure Hitchhikers Guide as being much like if they had done sci fi. Douglas Adams (the author of the series) was actually a member of Monty Python for a while. The movie certainly was not nearly as good but that is just a normal expectation, it was fairly good in its own right I think.
 
  • #13
And where's HAL from Space Odyssey?
 
  • #14
Cuthbert Calculus (number 8) was more of a scientist/inventor. I suppose he had to use math when designing his shark-submarine, but seriously...

...what's with this poll? :sardonic:
 

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top