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Numberphile v. Math: the truth about 1+2+3+...=-1/12

Mathologer · explainer · Watch on YouTube

Recreational & visual mathPure mathematics

What it is

Mathologer examines the infamous Numberphile claim that 1+2+3+... equals -1/12, explaining what is wrong with the calculation and how it connects to real math like the zeta function and analytic continuation.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN points to it as the in-depth rebuttal to the Numberphile video that explains why the 'proof' is wrong yet the result is meaningful.

  • 4 people recommended it
  • 4 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2020, last 2023

What HN commenters said

  1. “Mathologer points out both that it's patent nonsense”

    Explains why the -1/12 sum is nonsense yet useful.

    stan_rogers, 2020-02 · Recommendation · in “Ramanujan Surprises Again (2015)”

  2. “Mathologer did a fairly in-depth video[1] into why this proof is wrong”

    In-depth explanation of why the proof is wrong.

    cyphar, 2020-11 · Recommendation · in “1.5 is the midpoint between 0 and infinity in Ruby”

  3. “I find a response video to it more enlightening.”

    Response video found more enlightening than Numberphile's original.

    crvdgc, 2021-10 · Recommendation · in “Conterintuitive facts in mathematics, CS, and physics”

  4. “this video explains how one of the Numberphile videos is wrong”

    Explains how a Numberphile video is wrong.

    jonnytran, 2022-07 · Recommendation · in “Ask HN: YouTube Channels for the Intellectually Curious”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: -1/12, zeta function, analytic continuation, ramanujan, mathologer

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