Whose Honeymoon Story Is Misattributed in Mathematics?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the misattribution of a story concerning a mathematician who described his honeymoon as unproductive due to only writing one paper. Participants are trying to identify the mathematician associated with this anecdote, exploring various candidates and the validity of the story itself.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant recalls a story about a prolific mathematician who felt his honeymoon was unproductive, initially suggesting it might be Paul Erdős, but noting he was never married.
  • Another participant claims that the mathematician in question is Carl Friedrich Gauss, based on what their teacher said.
  • A participant expresses skepticism about the authenticity of the story, suggesting it may not have originated from a true account of a mathematician and could be a flexible anecdote applicable to various names.
  • A later reply confirms the source of the anecdote, linking it to a book that the participant used for learning abstract algebra, but does not clarify the accuracy of the story itself.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the identity of the mathematician associated with the story, and there is disagreement regarding the authenticity of the anecdote itself.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the assumptions about the story's origins and its applicability to different mathematicians, as well as the lack of definitive evidence supporting any specific claim.

blerg
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I remember hearing a story about a mathematician who was legendarily prolific; so much so that he described his honeymoon as being one of the most unproductive times in this life because he only wrote one paper.

I wanted to include this story in my personal statement for grad school applications, but I can't remember for the life of me who the story was about.

My first thought was Erdos, but he was never married, so I guess its not him.

Please help me remember!
 
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my teacher sad, he is Gauss.
 
Office_Shredder said:
http://books.google.com/books?id=Cn...EwAg#v=onepage&q=dickson would often&f=false"

I highly doubt this story originated as a true story based on a mathematician, at which point you might as well just plug in whoever's name you want

Thank you very much! You also solved the mystery of where I read that...that is the book I first learned abstract algebra from! We'll see if the anecdote actually makes it into my personal statement. Figured it was something funny without trying to be too funny.
 
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