Erdos numbers

xilman · 2005-10-29, 22:04

As a bit of light relief, and to give folk here an opportunity to indulge in some almost meaningless boasting, I'd like people to post their Erdos number. Those who don't know what an Erdos number is should look it up in the standard places.

To get things started:

Mine is 2 (via Sam Wagstaff)
Ernst Mayer's is 3 (via Richard Crandall and Carl Pomerance)
Bob Silverman's is 2 (via John Brillhart).

Ernst and I are four apart (Crandall, Pomerance and Wagstaff intervening) whereas Bob and I are linked through Wagstaff. Bob has precisely the same separation from Ernst as I do.

If either of the two above disagree with my analysis, please let me know!

Paul

Citrix · 2005-10-29, 22:41

Mine is largest, guess what it is?

edit: This should be moved to the msl thread or lounge as it is not math.

Zeta-Flux · 2005-10-29, 23:12

Mine is 3.

Orgasmic Troll · 2005-10-30, 02:17

my erdos number is infinity, however, there is a guy out there with my same exact name (first, last AND middle) who as far as I've gleaned from google studied at Berkeley and held a post-doctoral position at Harvard in (I think) chemistry .. and it looks like homeboy's been busy (wrt writing papers) so I wouldn't be surprised if HE had an Erdos number.

xilman · 2005-10-30, 09:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Citrix

Mine is largest, guess what it is?

edit: This should be moved to the msl thread or lounge as it is not math.

Fair enough. Now moved to the Lounge.

I'd argue that its math-related but you're right: it's better in the Lounge.

Paul

Numbers · 2005-10-30, 14:36

I regret that I am what Paul (Erdos, that is) would have referred to as one of the great un-washed who has never published a math paper. My only connection with the man is that I am (like him) a fervent believer in the efficacy of coffee to the thinking process.

My favourite quote from him is: A mathematician is a machine for turning coffee into theorems.

ET_ · 2005-10-30, 14:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Numbers

I regret that I am what Paul (Erdos, that is) would have referred to as one of the great un-washed who has never published a math paper. My only connection with the man is that I am (like him) a fervent believer in the efficacy of coffee to the thinking process.

My favourite quote from him is: A mathematician is a machine for turning coffee into theorems.

I personally know a man (Roberto Vacca) who has his Erdos number, but I'm afraid I can't qualify for it, as his question related to an Erdos' hypothesis remains unanswered

Luigi

fatphil · 2005-10-30, 15:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by xilman

As a bit of light relief, and to give folk here an opportunity to indulge in some almost meaningless boasting, I'd like people to post their Erdos number.

I'm infinite. However, I'm at least as capable of meaningless boasting at anyone!

For example, as of 2 weeks ago, I have a Lemmy number of 3.
Not as good as my Ronnie James Dio number of 2, alas.

(Well, we aren't in the maths forum any more!)

Phil

Orgasmic Troll · 2005-10-30, 17:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatphil

I'm infinite. However, I'm at least as capable of meaningless boasting at anyone!

For example, as of 2 weeks ago, I have a Lemmy number of 3.
Not as good as my Ronnie James Dio number of 2, alas.

(Well, we aren't in the maths forum any more!)

Phil

"Who would win in a wrestling match between Lemmy and God?"

"Lemmy."

"No."

"..God?"

"Wrong. Trick question. Lemmy is God."

R.D. Silverman · 2005-10-30, 18:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by xilman

As a bit of light relief, and to give folk here an opportunity to indulge in some almost meaningless boasting, I'd like people to post their Erdos number. Those who don't know what an Erdos number is should look it up in the standard places.

To get things started:

Mine is 2 (via Sam Wagstaff)
Ernst Mayer's is 3 (via Richard Crandall and Carl Pomerance)
Bob Silverman's is 2 (via John Brillhart).

Ernst and I are four apart (Crandall, Pomerance and Wagstaff intervening) whereas Bob and I are linked through Wagstaff. Bob has precisely the same separation from Ernst as I do.

If either of the two above disagree with my analysis, please let me know!

Paul

Actually, there is a little known convention. Suppose one has
more than one path to the root and that the minimum length is k.
If one has r such paths, (i.e. r different paths of length k), then
the Erdos number is (k-1) + 1/r. I have several different paths of length
2. (with Peter Montgomery and Sam as well, and one *unpublished* path
with my ex). Under this "convention" my number is 1 1/3. My ex had
an Erdos number of 1.

xilman · 2005-10-30, 19:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by R.D. Silverman

Actually, there is a little known convention. Suppose one has
more than one path to the root and that the minimum length is k.
If one has r such paths, (i.e. r different paths of length k), then
the Erdos number is (k-1) + 1/r. I have several different paths of length
2. (with Peter Montgomery and Sam as well, and one *unpublished* path
with my ex). Under this "convention" my number is 1 1/3. My ex had
an Erdos number of 1.

A convention sufficiently little known that I hadn't heard of it, not that that says a great deal.

I've a path with Peter Montgomery too, so under that convention my Erdos number is (2-1)+1/2 = 3/2. I'm fairly sure all my other co-authors have a regular Erdos number of at least two, though would be delighted to learn otherwise.

Paul

2005-10-29, 22:04	#1
xilman Bamboozled! "𒉺𒌌𒇷𒆷𒀭" May 2003 Down not across 2⁸·41 Posts	Erdos numbers As a bit of light relief, and to give folk here an opportunity to indulge in some almost meaningless boasting, I'd like people to post their Erdos number. Those who don't know what an Erdos number is should look it up in the standard places. To get things started: Mine is 2 (via Sam Wagstaff) Ernst Mayer's is 3 (via Richard Crandall and Carl Pomerance) Bob Silverman's is 2 (via John Brillhart). Ernst and I are four apart (Crandall, Pomerance and Wagstaff intervening) whereas Bob and I are linked through Wagstaff. Bob has precisely the same separation from Ernst as I do. If either of the two above disagree with my analysis, please let me know! Paul Last fiddled with by xilman on 2005-10-29 at 22:06 Reason: Can't spell "indulge" without a good long run-up at it.

2005-10-29, 22:41	#2
Citrix Jun 2003 1,579 Posts	Mine is largest, guess what it is? edit: This should be moved to the msl thread or lounge as it is not math. Last fiddled with by Citrix on 2005-10-29 at 22:48

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2005-10-29, 23:12	#3
Zeta-Flux May 2003 60B₁₆ Posts	Mine is 3.

2005-10-30, 02:17	#4
Orgasmic Troll Cranksta Rap Ayatollah Jul 2003 1010000001₂ Posts	my erdos number is infinity, however, there is a guy out there with my same exact name (first, last AND middle) who as far as I've gleaned from google studied at Berkeley and held a post-doctoral position at Harvard in (I think) chemistry .. and it looks like homeboy's been busy (wrt writing papers) so I wouldn't be surprised if HE had an Erdos number.

2005-10-30, 14:36	#6
Numbers Jun 2005 Near Beetlegeuse 2²×97 Posts	I regret that I am what Paul (Erdos, that is) would have referred to as one of the great un-washed who has never published a math paper. My only connection with the man is that I am (like him) a fervent believer in the efficacy of coffee to the thinking process. My favourite quote from him is: A mathematician is a machine for turning coffee into theorems.