Russian Genius Refuses $1 Million Prize

[Pelios]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8585407.stm

Russian maths genius Grigory Perelman, who declined a prestigious international award four years ago, is under new pressure to accept a prize. A US institute wants to give him $1m (£700,000) for solving one of the world's most complex mathematical problems, the Poincare Conjecture.

The Poincare Conjecture for those that don't know is a spherical object is the only closed three-dimensional space with no holes. It states that you can't take a 3-D shape that has a hole in it and remodel it into a ball shape without making a tear on its surface.
If I had the tools to solve it I would of solved it... what are your opinions?

[St.Vincent]

I am pretty sure that problem was on the list of impossible unsolved problems from the last century, so I doubt it could have been solved that easily given the right "tools".

The guy is a little eccentric. My family actually knows him personally (...) and grandfather told us that for him, having his solution be accepted as valid is all he needs. I would donate it, but I don't think it's anyone's business that he chooses not to. The people who are offering the prize could just donate it themselves.

[Pelios]

Originally Posted by St.Vincent

I am pretty sure that problem was on the list of impossible unsolved problems from the last century, so I doubt it could have been solved that easily given the right "tools".

The guy is a little eccentric. My family actually knows him personally (...) and grandfather told us that for him, having his solution be accepted as valid is all he needs. I would donate it, but I don't think it's anyone's business that he chooses not to. The people who are offering the prize could just donate it themselves.

You never know maybe he can actually be the one who solves it.
I don't know him personally but I read that he has made a lot of contributions in the mathematical field.

[Invert]

He did solve it? Thats what the prize is for?

If I were him and didnt want to collect it, or be the focus, I would ask if the prize could be quietly donated, without him having to collect it.

[OMFG!You'reActuallySmart!]

I'd probably take the money but Dr. Perelman does have a point of not wanting to be showcased like a circus attraction. In that case, he should donate it but even so, I'd still say keep some for himself.

Originally Posted by mexico

If I had the tools to solve it I would of solved it... what are your opinions?

Oh please, I'm not that arrogant and ignorant, and that's saying quite a fair bit. The right "tools", to start, would be a brain capable of performing such complex mathematics.

Originally Posted by mexico

You never know maybe he can actually be the one who solves it.

What are you talking about? It's not whether if he can solve it, he did solve it, didn't you read the article you posted?

[Toast]

So he figured out that it was possible? I was more curious about how that worked.

Anyway, if he doesn't want the money no one should be pressuring him into it.

[Nymous]

I don't see the problem. He solved a mathematical problem, yes. And yes,maybe he deserves a price like that. But hell, why would you force someone who doesn't want the price to take it? Why? It's not their business.

[losing touch.]

I agree that if he doesn't want it he should ask for it to be donated to charity or the organisers of this 'award' should donate it.