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Read about Srinivasa Ramanujan's fascinating theory on the sum of infinite integers, as told in his letter to G.H. Hardy in February 1913. Learn about the unconventional methods of proof he employed. Explore the concept of infinite series and the intriguing -1/12 result. Immerse yourself in the mathematical brilliance of Ramanujan's work through this historical correspondence.
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The infinite sum of the positive integers Dear Sir, I am very much gratified on perusing your letter of the 8th February 1913. I was expecting a reply from you similar to the one which a Mathematics Professor at London wrote asking me to study carefully Bromwich's Infinite Series and not fall into the pitfalls of divergent series. … I told him that the sum of an infinite number of terms of the series: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + · · · = −1/12 under my theory. If I tell you this you will at once point out to me the lunatic asylum as my goal. I dilate on this simply to convince you that you will not be able to follow my methods of proof if I indicate the lines on which I proceed in a single letter. … – SrinivasaRamanujan, writing to G. H. Hardy, Feb 1913
Know your shapes in topology! The same letter indicates the same point. Parallel arrows that connect the same two points represent the same edge. A B A dotted line indicates edges which are ‘free’ (i.e. We can keep going in that direction without reaching another edge).
Klein Bottle Torus A A A A A A A A Möbius Strip Sphere A B A B B A C A
Tube A A B B
