Any inaccurate information in M40 news reports?

only_human · 2003-12-07, 16:25

I have been very impressed in the quality of reporting of the latest prime number found by GIMPS.
Even so, I thought it would be fun to collect inaccuracies in the reported information. Also, this might be of some benefit in avoiding similar occurrances in the future.

Here is one that I have found so far:
The Detroit Free Press (MSU student finds rare prime number during computer search) and The Michigan Daily (MSU graduate student uses PC to find largest known prime number) have an identical paragraph that describes the sequence of prime numbers as beginning with "1." I do not mean any disparagement whatsoever; I have also already seen a correction in the Detroit Free Press: Getting it straight

What other mistakes are out there?

ewmayer · 2003-12-08, 00:13

I've always thought that it's a little picky to get on people's cases for saying the primes start at 1 rather than 2. I like to think of 1 as prime, but trivially so. I mean, it fits the definition, except that for 1, the "1 and itself" both refer to the same number.

only_human · 2003-12-08, 03:23

It sounds a little picky to me too, but I think it has some merit anyway. I have some recollection of mathematicians taking some pains to correct this in encyclopedia entries, etc. My feeling was that by not making the distinction, many proofs would require more elaborate description. Also it leads to the more precise definitions that partition nonzero integers into three classes: the units (integers with reciprocals in Z), the prime numbers, and the composite numbers.

Anyway, it isn't a great example, but I felt good enough to start the ball rolling.

Thinking about this just now (and partially agreeing with the sentiment you mentioned), I often see power series expansions that start with a term of 1 that I, myself, would find prettier if it relied on the formula that generated the subsequent terms. For example:
cos x = 1 - x²/2! + x⁴/4! - . . .
In my wacky way of looking at things, I find this prettier:
cos x = x⁰/0! - x²/2! + x⁴/4! - . . .

Kevin · 2003-12-08, 05:26

The article in the Ann Arbor news (from the Associated Press) said the computer used had 2 GHZ of memory. You'd think someone would've caught that before it was released.

only_human · 2003-12-08, 09:02

Good catch Kevin.
Also on the topic of computers, some of the articles went into describing the type of collaboration that GIMPS and/or PrimeNet is in slightly different was. Here is a thread in our forum about that: The difference between P2P and distributed computing and grid computing. I've seen articles discussing terms P2P, distributed computing, grid computing, and utility computing -- sometimes with slightly different interpretations.

Also on the topic of prime numbers, the Lansing State Journal correctly informs readers that the numbers 3, 5, 7 and 11 are prime numbers. I think that leaving 2 out of the list is a result of uncertainty of the correctness of including it; something like "hey, 2 is an even number... that can't be right."

Dresdenboy · 2003-12-08, 10:34

I didn't like the impression which german news magazine Focus gave to their readers (http://news.focus.msn.de/G/GN/gn.htm...&streamsnr=241).

Unfortunately the article didn't show clearly, that everyone, who's interested, could devote their idle CPU time to GIMPS by simply installing a client although they say, that everyone could join.

TauCeti · 2003-12-08, 10:58

FOCUS did also mention, that Michael Shafer is a 26 year old mastermind. But that does not - i repeat - not belong to this thread

Dresdenboy · 2003-12-08, 11:12

That is another story.. and surely distracted more people.

Maybe some readers even got the impression that they have to sit down with pencil and paper and look for prime numbers - and use their PC for some assistance - with GIMPS being just a coordination portal of all that paper work

Complex33 · 2003-12-08, 13:09

What? I've been doing this wrong all along... I was wondering why my hand was cramping and I kept running out of pencils and paper...

Dresdenboy · 2003-12-08, 13:29

ehm.. I just tested 2^7-1 and it is prime!

What is my next number to test?

MrHappy · 2003-12-08, 14:46

Quote:

Originally posted by Dresdenboy
ehm.. I just tested 2^7-1 and it is prime!

What is my next number to test?

I'll do the doublecheck.

2003-12-07, 16:25	#1
only_human "Gang aft agley" Sep 2002 3754₁₀ Posts	Any inaccurate information in M40 news reports? I have been very impressed in the quality of reporting of the latest prime number found by GIMPS. Even so, I thought it would be fun to collect inaccuracies in the reported information. Also, this might be of some benefit in avoiding similar occurrances in the future. Here is one that I have found so far: The Detroit Free Press (MSU student finds rare prime number during computer search) and The Michigan Daily (MSU graduate student uses PC to find largest known prime number) have an identical paragraph that describes the sequence of prime numbers as beginning with "1." I do not mean any disparagement whatsoever; I have also already seen a correction in the Detroit Free Press: Getting it straight What other mistakes are out there?

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2003-12-08, 00:13	#2
ewmayer ∂²ω=0 Sep 2002 República de California 19·613 Posts	I've always thought that it's a little picky to get on people's cases for saying the primes start at 1 rather than 2. I like to think of 1 as prime, but trivially so. I mean, it fits the definition, except that for 1, the "1 and itself" both refer to the same number.

2003-12-08, 03:23	#3
only_human "Gang aft agley" Sep 2002 3754₁₀ Posts	It sounds a little picky to me too, but I think it has some merit anyway. I have some recollection of mathematicians taking some pains to correct this in encyclopedia entries, etc. My feeling was that by not making the distinction, many proofs would require more elaborate description. Also it leads to the more precise definitions that partition nonzero integers into three classes: the units (integers with reciprocals in Z), the prime numbers, and the composite numbers. Anyway, it isn't a great example, but I felt good enough to start the ball rolling. Thinking about this just now (and partially agreeing with the sentiment you mentioned), I often see power series expansions that start with a term of 1 that I, myself, would find prettier if it relied on the formula that generated the subsequent terms. For example: cos x = 1 - x²/2! + x⁴/4! - . . . In my wacky way of looking at things, I find this prettier: cos x = x⁰/0! - x²/2! + x⁴/4! - . . .

2003-12-08, 05:26	#4
Kevin Aug 2002 Ann Arbor, MI 433₁₀ Posts	The article in the Ann Arbor news (from the Associated Press) said the computer used had 2 GHZ of memory. You'd think someone would've caught that before it was released.

2003-12-08, 09:02	#5
only_human "Gang aft agley" Sep 2002 2×1,877 Posts	Good catch Kevin. Also on the topic of computers, some of the articles went into describing the type of collaboration that GIMPS and/or PrimeNet is in slightly different was. Here is a thread in our forum about that: The difference between P2P and distributed computing and grid computing. I've seen articles discussing terms P2P, distributed computing, grid computing, and utility computing -- sometimes with slightly different interpretations. Also on the topic of prime numbers, the Lansing State Journal correctly informs readers that the numbers 3, 5, 7 and 11 are prime numbers. I think that leaving 2 out of the list is a result of uncertainty of the correctness of including it; something like "hey, 2 is an even number... that can't be right."

2003-12-08, 10:34	#6
Dresdenboy Apr 2003 Berlin, Germany 19² Posts	I didn't like the impression which german news magazine Focus gave to their readers (http://news.focus.msn.de/G/GN/gn.htm...&streamsnr=241). Unfortunately the article didn't show clearly, that everyone, who's interested, could devote their idle CPU time to GIMPS by simply installing a client although they say, that everyone could join.

2003-12-08, 10:58	#7
TauCeti Mar 2003 Braunschweig, Germany 2×113 Posts	FOCUS did also mention, that Michael Shafer is a 26 year old mastermind. But that does not - i repeat - not belong to this thread

2003-12-08, 11:12	#8
Dresdenboy Apr 2003 Berlin, Germany 19² Posts	That is another story.. and surely distracted more people. Maybe some readers even got the impression that they have to sit down with pencil and paper and look for prime numbers - and use their PC for some assistance - with GIMPS being just a coordination portal of all that paper work

2003-12-08, 13:09	#9
Complex33 Aug 2002 Texas 5×31 Posts	What? I've been doing this wrong all along... I was wondering why my hand was cramping and I kept running out of pencils and paper...

2003-12-08, 13:29	#10
Dresdenboy Apr 2003 Berlin, Germany 19² Posts	ehm.. I just tested 2^7-1 and it is prime! What is my next number to test?