The Riemann Hypothesis, Explained

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  • čas přidán 8. 05. 2024
  • The Riemann Hypothesis is the most notorious unsolved problem in all of mathematics. Ever since it was first proposed by Bernhard Riemann in 1859, the conjecture has maintained the status of the "Holy Grail" of mathematics. In fact, the person who solves it will win a $1 million prize from the Clay Institute of Mathematics. So, what is the Riemann hypothesis? Why is it so important? What can it tell us about the chaotic universe of prime numbers? And why is its proof so elusive? Alex Kontorovich, professor of mathematics at Rutgers University, breaks it all down in this comprehensive explainer.
    00:00 A glimpse into the mystery of the Riemann Hypothesis
    01:42 The world of prime numbers
    02:30 Carl Friedrich Gauss looks for primes, Prime Counting Function
    03:30 Logarithm Function and Gauss's Conjecture
    04:39 Leonard Euler and infinite series
    06:30 Euler and the Zeta Function
    07:30 Bernhard Riemann enters the prime number picture
    08:18 Imaginary and complex numbers
    09:40 Complex Analysis and the Zeta Function
    10:25 Analytic Continuation: two functions at work at once
    11:14 Zeta Zeros and the critical strip
    12:20 The critical line
    12:51 Why the Riemann's Hypothesis has a profound consequence to number theory
    13:04 Riemann's Hypothesis shows the distribution of prime numbers can be predicted
    14:59 The search for a proof of the Riemann Hypothesis
    Read more at Quanta Magazine: www.quantamagazine.org/how-i-...
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Komentáře • 7K

  • @kabauny
    @kabauny Před 3 lety +15980

    My math professor once said, “I’ve know the existence of these math problems for many years. And I assure you, there are a lot easier ways to make a million dollars”

    • @kolbasz3584
      @kolbasz3584 Před 3 lety +307

      lmaoo

    • @salerio61
      @salerio61 Před 3 lety +748

      One has already been done - and the prize turned down. Fermat's last theorem would have been a Clay Institute award but was solved before the prizes were offered, but Andrew Wiles has received prizes approaching £3 million and a knighthood which isn't so bad really.

    • @fadyssiebzehn6261
      @fadyssiebzehn6261 Před 3 lety +81

      did you asked how to the professor?

    • @philippebaillargeon5204
      @philippebaillargeon5204 Před 3 lety +78

      I like your teacher

    • @kruth6663
      @kruth6663 Před 3 lety +751

      Compared to such an achievement, a million dollars feels so trivial it's almost humiliating.

  • @chasedenecke6831
    @chasedenecke6831 Před 3 lety +7223

    Whoever does these animations, massive props to you. These are literally the best math illustrations I've ever seen.

    • @eishaspeaks9590
      @eishaspeaks9590 Před 3 lety +27

      i was just going to add that, until i observed your comment.

    • @hansmeiser32
      @hansmeiser32 Před 3 lety +176

      well, then you probably don't know 3Blue1Brown

    • @mikopiko
      @mikopiko Před 3 lety +93

      @@hansmeiser32 Both are good at what they are doing

    • @md.salahuddinparvez6578
      @md.salahuddinparvez6578 Před 3 lety +50

      The animations here are really awesome. But 3B1B is still the best.

    • @EPMTUNES
      @EPMTUNES Před 3 lety +19

      3blue1brown is worth checking out too!

  • @evelyntromp789
    @evelyntromp789 Před rokem +1951

    I really appreciate that you explain the more “basic” things (e.g. what a log function is). It makes the video feel welcoming to people who aren’t necessary very good at math (like me, lol)

    • @emigoldber
      @emigoldber Před rokem +5

      nice pun

    • @thefishreloaded
      @thefishreloaded Před rokem +6

      @@emigoldber i dont even think it was intended but it is pretty good

    • @faiqkhan7545
      @faiqkhan7545 Před rokem +27

      Log function is just a reverse function of exponential function.
      (Inverse I mean)

    • @EK-bn7jz
      @EK-bn7jz Před rokem +13

      yeah but then other parts of it they just brush over like it's nothing

    • @erikhalvorseth3950
      @erikhalvorseth3950 Před rokem +3

      True, Evelyn. That can be a challenge for truly gifted matematicians- to level down and communicate on ‘lower’ levels. The author shows some pedagogical talent here

  • @matthewblanchard7823
    @matthewblanchard7823 Před rokem +2443

    This is like becoming an astronaut, discovering a previously unknown planet, finding a river on that planet, and at the bottom of the river is the perfectly fitting other half to a broken rock you found in a river on Earth as a kid. The Universe sees the look on your face and laughs silently.

    • @reyliw
      @reyliw Před rokem +119

      That's what I call a good trip.

    • @ramaraksha01
      @ramaraksha01 Před rokem +23

      This is stupid - there is no magic man laughing at us - stop with these childish ideas

    • @luceatlux7087
      @luceatlux7087 Před rokem +65

      It' has always been plain that we're dealing with a partialy identified/defined state of existence.
      Everything we see are aspects of a whole that we have not yet put together. We know this because reality is currently completely unclear and objectively (essentially) meaningless to us. The fractal isn't yet plotted (It may never be).
      When we see the truth of material existence, all answers will suddenly fit together and fill out the description of the whole, seamlessly.

    • @vignesh1065
      @vignesh1065 Před rokem +200

      @@ramaraksha01 He never mentioned a magic man.

    • @ramaraksha01
      @ramaraksha01 Před rokem

      @@vignesh1065 The universe is inanimate - it is dead - it is not alive to be laughing at us. What he is saying is God created all this and is laughing at us for our stupidity

  • @joserojas9876
    @joserojas9876 Před 2 lety +3725

    Thank you, Quanta Magazine. My understanding of the Riemann Hypothesis went from 0% to 15%. Great job (I mean it).

  • @weimondo
    @weimondo Před 3 lety +13329

    I have discovered a truly marvellous proof of this, but it's much too large for this youtube comment to contain. Therefore it is left as an exercise to the reader.

  • @mikerawaan1444
    @mikerawaan1444 Před rokem +622

    For the first time in my 46 years, I have truly understood what the Riemann Hypothesis actually is. Thank you!

    • @fex144
      @fex144 Před rokem +10

      Fully understood? I'm about your age Mike. When we got to the zero-to-one boundary i went - huh? what? that continued onward.

    • @andyc9902
      @andyc9902 Před rokem +1

      Never stop learning. Coz people live up to 75 years

    • @whatsoup
      @whatsoup Před rokem +60

      @@andyc9902 wait until you hear about 76 year olds

    • @andyc9902
      @andyc9902 Před rokem

      @@whatsoup they should prepare for the death. Unlike 46 year old

    • @sarah-1
      @sarah-1 Před rokem +3

      I’m 17 and i really want to understand it but i didn’t. Can you please explain what you’ve understood

  • @whatthepi
    @whatthepi Před rokem +720

    I'm amazed by Riemann, Euler, Gauss and other mathematicians/physicists how their brain and curiousity for math and science managed to find these sort of algorithm and new fundamentals that we even use today. Amazing vid, love your animations!

    • @franzrogar
      @franzrogar Před rokem +66

      Be even more amazed when remember that they died before even the electric light was made available to public. Let's not talk then about mechanical calculators...

    • @franzrogar
      @franzrogar Před rokem +14

      @@k-force8325 yes, they had what is called "mechanical calculators", which is something like an automated abacus via gears. And they were HUGE (in modern standards) and WEIGHTED a ton... For example, you have the "Pascaline" built by Blaise Pascal, and it was an "Arithmetic Machine" in 1642.

    • @manavshah8335
      @manavshah8335 Před 10 měsíci +2

      @@franzrogar there were even massive mechanical computers that calculated calculus, much before the small pocket sized scientific calcultors we carry nowdays

    • @franzrogar
      @franzrogar Před 10 měsíci +2

      @@manavshah8335 I know, I wrote about them in the post I sent 5 months ago before the one you wrote 2 days ago...

    • @rolodexter
      @rolodexter Před 9 měsíci +1

      I agree, Riemann, Euler, Gauss, and other mathematicians and physicists are truly amazing. Their work has had a profound impact on our understanding of the world, and their discoveries are still being used today.
      I'm glad you enjoyed the video! I put a lot of work into the animations, and I'm always happy to hear that people enjoy them.
      I think one of the things that makes these mathematicians so special is their curiosity. They were always asking questions and trying to understand the world around them. They were also very creative, and they were able to come up with new and innovative ways to solve problems.

  • @southbayjay2540
    @southbayjay2540 Před 3 lety +5144

    Literally if my math teacher had just said “logarithms are to exponents what division is to multiplication,” I would have had much less trouble with them. Thanks dude

    • @InfluxDecline
      @InfluxDecline Před 3 lety +193

      It's a bit more complicated than that, though, because exponents have roots as well.

    • @kashu7691
      @kashu7691 Před 3 lety +53

      @@jdeep7 idk what that guy is talking about with roots but I guess the complex logarithm isn't a well defined function since there are infinitely many possible imaginary parts for a given input

    • @InfluxDecline
      @InfluxDecline Před 3 lety +106

      @@jdeep7 Exponents and powers are often taught in school as the same thing, and the inverse of a power function is a root. Is the reverse of 2^3=8 cbrt(8)=2, or is it log2(8)=3?

    • @jeffkunkler3842
      @jeffkunkler3842 Před 3 lety +1

      right?!

    • @AsheeshGupta1978
      @AsheeshGupta1978 Před 3 lety +36

      Pretty sure teacher himself did not know that

  • @harshadsalunke1580
    @harshadsalunke1580 Před 3 lety +2103

    Reimann, gauss, euler and all other guys did all this stuff without matplotlib😳
    I can't even imagine the extent of their hardwork and dedication

    • @dwightk.schrute8696
      @dwightk.schrute8696 Před 3 lety +378

      one has to wonder what those people might be able to achieve with modern technology

    • @sebaitor
      @sebaitor Před 3 lety +57

      matplotlib omegalol

    • @wil8785
      @wil8785 Před 3 lety +197

      @@dwightk.schrute8696 they would probably all use Pascal and create their own framesworks because the other ones, "don't do exactly what I want"

    • @computerfis
      @computerfis Před 3 lety +16

      @@wil8785 python?

    • @jakubszczesnowicz3201
      @jakubszczesnowicz3201 Před 3 lety +178

      @@dwightk.schrute8696 Python would make Gauss unstoppable oh my god

  • @hallu6666
    @hallu6666 Před rokem +449

    When pure mathematics comes with lucid explanations, and the two are complemented by a perfect vanilla icing of aesthetic graphics. A million thanks for this amazing presentation.

  • @neurofiber2406
    @neurofiber2406 Před rokem +40

    I can't believe I understood this.
    I've heard about this for years, but this is the first explanation I've seen that makes sense.
    Great video.

  • @artisorak
    @artisorak Před 3 lety +4808

    Proving the Riemann Hypothesis is probably one of the hardest ways to make a million dollars.

    • @aemi_sa
      @aemi_sa Před 3 lety +82

      hahaha true i'll be doing forex

    • @shutup4483
      @shutup4483 Před 3 lety +70

      investing in gamestop is harder

    • @aemi_sa
      @aemi_sa Před 3 lety +112

      @@shutup4483 you are right. but would u stop calling it an investment pls XD

    • @PepeLePewPew
      @PepeLePewPew Před 3 lety +17

      @@shutup4483 you are 6 weeks to late

    • @brunovaz
      @brunovaz Před 3 lety +15

      yeah we watched the numberphile video too

  • @yunooooo_
    @yunooooo_ Před 2 lety +2561

    Can I just appreciate how well the animation is? Literally, WOW.

  • @CosmosNut
    @CosmosNut Před rokem +15

    Well done! Great animations go a very long way to illuminating the discussion which is as relatively simple and clear as possible. Thank you.

    • @kathrynhunter9537
      @kathrynhunter9537 Před rokem

      It's not integers it's decimal integers I solved this in high school I was a mathematical genius

  • @scottekim
    @scottekim Před rokem +10

    Just discovering the Quanta math videos. These are my new favorite math explainer videos because - they take on difficult mathematics that I actually want to know about, explain it thoroughly and artfully, with stunning animation that is both entertaining and very well thought out, and makes it all seem easy and inevitable. And having a narrator who has a great voice AND is a personable mathematician seals the deal.

  • @marcellocapone4925
    @marcellocapone4925 Před 3 lety +1858

    There's a janitor in Boston who I think could take a crack at it.

  • @setmason1510
    @setmason1510 Před 3 lety +1526

    hold my beer, I got one A in math in high school, I got this

    • @farerse
      @farerse Před 3 lety +18

      ur getting the million prize?

    • @farerse
      @farerse Před 3 lety +76

      no I think the person who will solve this will not drink beer .. but rather some sophisticated tea

    • @DAVIEYKE
      @DAVIEYKE Před 3 lety +46

      Hold my bong water, i got a shocking suprise in math, I've got bees

    • @cv507
      @cv507 Před 3 lety +1

      i got ^ ^
      base course -.-

    • @robmendell6338
      @robmendell6338 Před 3 lety +25

      There is already one A in Math.

  • @deldarel
    @deldarel Před 7 měsíci +7

    This video goes so well with the 3blue1brown one. It explains the Riemann zeta function in more detail and helps you get an actual feel of the 0's, especially the trivial ones.
    But like all other Riemann zeta function videos I've seen before, they say 'it's important for primes' and refuse to elaborate.
    NOW I understand, thank you!
    At least, I understand enough to appreciate it. I've wanted this for so long. Thanks, once again! Also I never appreciated how much of the Riemann hypothesis was actually done by Riemann himself. What a juggernaut! I thought he laid the foundation and it stopped with 'I think the zeroes are on 0.5' and that someone later realised the connection with primes.

  • @mr.smitdineshbhaiboraniya8288

    Hats off to Kontorovich sir. He explained such a complicated topic in a very simple manner. I just want to develop this skill.

    • @RSLT
      @RSLT Před rokem +1

      100% agree

  • @JS-rt7kp
    @JS-rt7kp Před 3 lety +503

    If there was a video like this for every math concept, I would never take my eyes off the computer screen.

  • @mptyyegdlc
    @mptyyegdlc Před 3 lety +1267

    I have watched countless videos about the Riemann Hypothesis, the Riemann's Zeta function, etc. And this is only one that actually explains the connecction between this function and the distribution of prime numbers. The harmonics part has never been explained to me before. Well done, now I can finally truly understand why this is such a big deal for mathematicians. Well done!

    • @lesliekollerprivate5062
      @lesliekollerprivate5062 Před 2 lety +8

      I was just thinking exactly the same about this video in particular, an and I've watched hundreds of vids and read dozens of books.

    • @davidhelmut26
      @davidhelmut26 Před 2 lety +27

      it has to do with fourier analysis. because the function with the log of the primes can be written in another way so that the part where you put in the zeta zeros has a cosine. that means that every zero is like a wave. and if you add all those waves together you get this function in 14:26

    • @gardendado1999
      @gardendado1999 Před 2 lety +11

      it is kinda ironic for a musician like me to watch a random math video and hear harmonics mentioned, like what if all the math mental gymnastics is reducible to waves and harmonics ?

    • @user-yl7wn2fz1t
      @user-yl7wn2fz1t Před 2 lety +2

      Indeed.

    • @dshepherd107
      @dshepherd107 Před 2 lety +4

      @@gardendado1999 I think Pythagorus might have a bone to pic w/ you on that one.

  • @paullogeman9189
    @paullogeman9189 Před 9 měsíci +5

    A clear and concise presentation on a challenging topic.

  • @douglasespindola5185
    @douglasespindola5185 Před 2 dny

    There should be a nobel prize for the efforts in teaching so complex subjects in an affordable way like this video does. Awesome job! Greetings from Brazil!

  • @yerivalpolanco1448
    @yerivalpolanco1448 Před 3 lety +378

    This is one of the reasons I am so grateful I learned english so young. There are few non english spaces where I can find such great content.

    • @calix451
      @calix451 Před 3 lety +4

      You are so right!

    • @James-un8io
      @James-un8io Před 3 lety +6

      what's your first language

    • @yerivalpolanco1448
      @yerivalpolanco1448 Před 3 lety +8

      @@James-un8io Español

    • @rfak7696
      @rfak7696 Před 3 lety +7

      I know how you feel. It's very hard to find content as well explained in any other languages (native portuguese speaker)

    • @MrAlRats
      @MrAlRats Před 3 lety +13

      It makes me sad to think of all the people in the world who don't know English. It's a huge disadvantage that they may not even fully appreciate themselves. There are so many great books and documentaries in English. It's not quite as bad as living in a war torn country with no access to running water or electricity, but still pretty bad in terms of the opportunities that it robs you of.

  • @DanielPetri
    @DanielPetri Před 3 lety +7260

    this is next level content

  • @perseusgeorgiadis7821
    @perseusgeorgiadis7821 Před rokem +47

    Watched this a few months back. A few months of studying maths rigorously later, and I can finally start to appreciate how magnificent this is

    • @SublimeWeasel
      @SublimeWeasel Před 8 měsíci

      you inspired me, magic man. gonna do the same

    • @mafhim62
      @mafhim62 Před 4 měsíci

      @@SublimeWeasel
      Hey , How it’s going ?

    • @SublimeWeasel
      @SublimeWeasel Před 4 měsíci +3

      @@mafhim62 hi. I didn't study math rigorously. Other than that, meh. You?

    • @mafhim62
      @mafhim62 Před 4 měsíci

      @@SublimeWeasel
      I did , I failed the first three times, but succeeded the fourth!
      If you ever need help I am here for you

    • @SublimeWeasel
      @SublimeWeasel Před 4 měsíci

      @@mafhim62thank you. though, what do you mean by "failed the first three times"? what did you even try to do? im now imagining you soving the entire math itself in 4 tries lol

  • @matthewblanchard7823
    @matthewblanchard7823 Před rokem +1

    Incredible. The reveal when all the harmonics are added in and its the primes is fantastic.

  • @petes2424
    @petes2424 Před 3 lety +1128

    Me: It's been a long day, let's watch some light-minded vid.
    CZcams: How bout Riemann Hypothesis?

  • @rizalpurnawan3796
    @rizalpurnawan3796 Před 3 lety +778

    "If I were to awaken after having slept for a thousand of years, my first question would be; 'has the Riemann Hypothesis been proven?'."
    - David Hilbert

    • @nicbajitogaming8947
      @nicbajitogaming8947 Před 3 lety +40

      "The 3 dolar problems that kids play with it?" Hahaha

    • @frankfox4366
      @frankfox4366 Před 3 lety +20

      I think I would want to piss before anything else.

    • @shobhitsharma3263
      @shobhitsharma3263 Před 3 lety

      Amazing Tarot Card Reading.
      Is Anandi Dhawan Dead/Alive ??

    • @shobhitsharma3263
      @shobhitsharma3263 Před 3 lety

      Amazing Tarot Card Reading.
      Is Anandi Dhawan Dead/Alive ??

    • @proximacentaur1654
      @proximacentaur1654 Před 3 lety +1

      I'd probably want a coffee before tackling anything complicated.

  • @CarstenSpraner
    @CarstenSpraner Před 2 lety +8

    Thank you so much! If I had these videos during my mathematics studies it would really be more fun. And surely result in more passion.

    • @Nathan-dt2tu
      @Nathan-dt2tu Před rokem

      If the math itself isn't enough to bring out your passion, what would attracting a bunch of lay people to the field accomplish? You'd get even more morons like Terry whatshisname who insists on Terryology, where 1*1 = 2, just because he couldn't understand basic grade 1 math.

  • @scottk7515
    @scottk7515 Před 7 měsíci +9

    I've watched many videos on the Riemann Zeta function, but this one is now my favorite. It connects to the primes beautifully. Alex, you've done the world a wonderful service. Thank you!

  • @s3cr3tpassword
    @s3cr3tpassword Před 3 lety +798

    This is literally the best video on CZcams explaining why the Rieman hypothesis is related to the prime numbers and why proving it is so important. Other videos only briefly mentions that it's important because the 'prime number distribution is encoded in the function', like bruh that doesnt explain it enough. This video also beautifully shows how anaylitcal continuation works.

    • @lilapela
      @lilapela Před 3 lety +22

      Yeauh my mind was blown when they shouwed the harmonic sums converging

    • @EduardodaSilva00
      @EduardodaSilva00 Před 3 lety +12

      This video also has some beautiful animations and historical informations. I love to understand math with context and this video makes a great job!

    • @timothyelicada2630
      @timothyelicada2630 Před 3 lety +1

      Agree

    • @asdsa7434
      @asdsa7434 Před 3 lety +24

      Not really I felt like this didn't explain much for those with some background in Maths, and is prob still too difficult for those without a background to understand. But can't really blame the video since it's only 15 min long

    • @metawarp7446
      @metawarp7446 Před 3 lety

      I wonder what they do with the Riemann hypothesis in quantum physics research...

  • @neogen23
    @neogen23 Před 3 lety +498

    I know very little about mathematics yet I was able to keep up with this video till the end. That's a rare talent you've got there, explaining such advanced concepts in plain English. Thank you!

    • @NomadUrpagi
      @NomadUrpagi Před 3 lety +16

      That is the talent only the TRUE professors posess. Feynman and sagan were like this.

    • @Deadshot-kq5zk
      @Deadshot-kq5zk Před 3 lety +3

      Yeah it sounded nice

    • @blastbottles
      @blastbottles Před rokem

      Bro ur name is math

  • @omarnassery7280
    @omarnassery7280 Před 4 měsíci

    As a non-mathematician, I gained so much insight from this one short video! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

  • @fernando3670rocha
    @fernando3670rocha Před rokem +37

    I loved this video and the math explanations. I could like it 10 times if possible. Great explanation. That is an example of how math should be taught. I am an engineer and at university I had a few good professors, but no professor was as good as this video.

  • @ClemensAlive
    @ClemensAlive Před 2 lety +2169

    WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE?!
    Mathematicians: "No thanks..."

    • @pawfulpurrr
      @pawfulpurrr Před 2 lety +33

      Rieman hypothesis solved by a indian

    • @ramesh.pikkili6886
      @ramesh.pikkili6886 Před 2 lety +3

      It solved by telugu man in india

    • @kyranstoecklin726
      @kyranstoecklin726 Před 2 lety +3

      @@wassilywsky6333 omg it WAS solved! That is so amazing

    • @cricketfan4089
      @cricketfan4089 Před 2 lety +4

      Recently a guy from india solved this

    • @atlasbailly5439
      @atlasbailly5439 Před 2 lety +6

      @Chepanu gaka chepanu cambridge university? i thought they were from cambridge, massachusetts?
      also according to the clay mathematical institute, the problem is still unsolved and opened. i dont yet have the math skills to evaluate his proof myself, but it seems that his proof is not based solely on analytical mathematics (which is the point of the millenium problems, no?)

  • @willh69
    @willh69 Před 3 lety +1398

    cool man, I think I'll solve this over my lunch break

    • @earthling_parth
      @earthling_parth Před 3 lety +32

      Did you do it? :P

    • @willh69
      @willh69 Před 3 lety +339

      @@earthling_parth yep, working on it!
      My conclusion thus far is that this burger needs more sauce

    • @earthling_parth
      @earthling_parth Před 2 lety +62

      @@willh69 wow, great progress dude. Let me know when you reach to the state of pineapples and bananas on pizza 😆

    • @commentsanitizer7929
      @commentsanitizer7929 Před 2 lety +5

      Overconfident jokes

    • @monstrellsf-w8277
      @monstrellsf-w8277 Před 2 lety +45

      @@commentsanitizer7929 OvErCoNFiDeNt JoKeS 😡🤬🥵🥵🥵

  • @rauld3560
    @rauld3560 Před rokem

    U guys show video making the same love as you do to math! Thank you! Great video and great explanations

  • @samcoding
    @samcoding Před 5 měsíci +1

    The production quality of this content is insane.

  • @gregrodd8936
    @gregrodd8936 Před 3 lety +388

    For those who saw Beautiful Mind, this was the puzzle Nash was working on at the end of the movie. There is a Dover book from Edwards, "Reimann's Zeta Function". 305 pp. The first 25 pages explain Reimann's original 8 page paper. The rest of the book tackles developments since 1859 (up to 1974). Edward's book is presented as a guide to the primary sources. If you saw "The Man Who Knew Infinity", Hardy and Ramanujan also did work related to the conjecture. Turing also worked on the problem, taking a computational approach. Just so you know the competition and how it relates to nerd culture. I get stuck just trying to draw a Greek Zeta.

    • @Mrpallekuling
      @Mrpallekuling Před 3 lety +12

      Edwards has written several great books, not only this one but also books like Galois Theory and Fermat's Last Theorem. They are not easy, but if you put in some work, you'll find the beauty of mathematics. Edwards died November 10, 2020, 84 years old.

    • @fntime
      @fntime Před 3 lety +5

      This didn't work well for John Nash, he's a crazy quilt. He's weird looking
      nothing like Russell Crowe.

    • @craffte
      @craffte Před 3 lety +1

      Ok fr best comment

    • @riddhimanna8437
      @riddhimanna8437 Před 3 lety +1

      Heyy thanks I didn't know this book existed!

    • @surgeonmd729
      @surgeonmd729 Před 3 lety +5

      Trauma Surgeon
      There's another very good book, entitled "Prime Obsession" that alternates chapters on the theory with biographical chapters on Riemann. If you love math, it's a wonderful book. Highly recommended.

  • @avasapphic
    @avasapphic Před 3 lety +993

    You just made mathematics fun, I understood only half of it but the video was great, glad I discovered your channel! :)

    • @metawarp7446
      @metawarp7446 Před 3 lety +10

      Have you seen Numberphile? That's a pretty fun math's channel.
      Oh and Vihart is relly great too.
      But this video was indeed really fun, I'm also happy about the discovery :^)

    • @Asdfgfdmn
      @Asdfgfdmn Před 3 lety

      What is the music name at 2:35?

    • @wartupper
      @wartupper Před 3 lety +1

      @dota vinkz I don't mean to be rude but you really do not know nothing about maths, maths is all about creativity, there's no blame in being illiterate about maths, but you should really gotta dive deeper than the horrid algorithmic approach that is present in most engineering courses and high school ones. Logic is beautiful, fun and creative and the best examples are Gödel completeness theorem. Maths are beautiful and creative.

    • @arghya4NE
      @arghya4NE Před 3 lety +1

      @dota vinkz fun is an human emotion encountered when truly performing a task you are best equipped to do so..in one sense fun follows satisfaction ..it has no fixed origin and can be obtained from myriad of sources ..depends on the individual
      And maths is creative if you let it be..

    • @arghya4NE
      @arghya4NE Před 3 lety

      @@stower1999 yup I bet in the future if we are successful in creating artificial intelligence constructs ..they would comment human beings being subjective while dealing with objective problems

  • @trueintellect
    @trueintellect Před měsícem +1

    Best explanation of the Riemann Hypothesis explanation I have ever seen! I wish this video existed when I was in college.

  • @business5292
    @business5292 Před 3 lety +698

    Probably the clay institute should start adjusting that prize for inflation.

    • @jondunmore4268
      @jondunmore4268 Před 3 lety +106

      Y'know, if they made it two million dollars, I might just attempt to solve it.

    • @Jackieception
      @Jackieception Před 3 lety +4

      @@jondunmore4268 thanks for the laugh man that got me :D

    • @david50665
      @david50665 Před 3 lety +35

      $1 million is a humiliating amount for answering a problem that defies centuries of effort from the best minds in mathematics and is tied to the foundations of cryptography and quantum mechanics. But that is where the priorities of mankind lie in the 21st century. And if you say otherwise u must be a socialist and against free markets. Yes there are easier ways to make money for sure

    • @codycast
      @codycast Před 3 lety +19

      @@david50665 the person / team that solves this isn’t going to be motivated by the $1m. Or an increase. Making it $10m or $100m wouldn’t likely make it solved faster.
      But you’re right. What normie cares if this is solved? Does it impact their life?

    • @david50665
      @david50665 Před 3 lety +5

      @@codycast I know that but it's a matter of respect and society's priorities...i would prefer if we apply your logic on other fields such as athletes, entrepreneurs, movie stars etc...in theory they should all do it because they love what they do... not because someone throw them a peanut like a monkey...due to market efficiencies, it seems only frivolous work can be well compensated

  • @sarmadinho
    @sarmadinho Před 3 lety +458

    I think you deserve $1 million just for explaining this hypothesis in a clear and understandable language. Well done!

    • @NomadUrpagi
      @NomadUrpagi Před 3 lety +5

      Numberphile also did it REALLY well.

    • @typo691
      @typo691 Před 3 lety +4

      3blue1brown has only animated it quite well

    • @MichaelMonterey
      @MichaelMonterey Před 3 lety +3

      Unfortunately, despite the rhetoric, most maths pros, like Riemann himself, really don't want know why R's zeta formula functions as it does, nor why RH remained unsolved for more than 157 years. Also, like Riemann, nor do they want to learn or do anything other than what they are doing inside The Box of the current paradigm of their fave maths niche. If that were untrue Riemann could have solved RH--IFF he could've gotten out of his tumnel-vision syndrome (& outa The Box). Also, if the culture of current maths was not allergic to superior theory & metatheory of maths & logic it would be easy to get my proofs reviewed, published & verified. As is, that's almost impossible. Sigh...seems a shame to let 21 years of good work and next-gen maths go to waste. Oh, well...humanity is clearly stuck with a culture of cowardice, conceit & corruption. So, i guess we're doomed. So, nothing matters. Rite?

    • @jwust1n
      @jwust1n Před 3 lety +5

      @@MichaelMonterey among us

    • @MichaelMonterey
      @MichaelMonterey Před 3 lety +2

      @@jwust1n > Hi. Thanks for noticing. Yet thats a bit cryptic. Care to expand your comment?

  • @Leevay
    @Leevay Před 8 měsíci +6

    Insanely well animated and absolutely essential to understand the connection between the topics presented. Props!

  • @Aniki_chan69
    @Aniki_chan69 Před rokem +1

    By seeing this video the way we think maths varies differently from region to region and place to place that makes it beauty ful

  • @akdkdjsjskdnfn
    @akdkdjsjskdnfn Před 3 lety +163

    someone give the animators a raise; kept me interested throughout the vid

    • @craffte
      @craffte Před 3 lety +1

      I like the guy's voice, too. Interesting and not patronizing.
      If he narrated my life, I might try.

  • @deepstariaenigmatica2601
    @deepstariaenigmatica2601 Před 3 lety +465

    Keep pumping out content like this. Love the level of detail & creativity in these videos.

    • @MikhailFederov
      @MikhailFederov Před 3 lety +2

      Me too. It makes me feel like I'm doing something with my life even though I'm slouching back and passively consuming someone else's hard work.

    • @judetheman1562
      @judetheman1562 Před 2 lety

      @@MikhailFederov That’s called passive learning

  • @lifeiselsewhere1
    @lifeiselsewhere1 Před rokem +2

    The best scientific communication video I've ever watched!

  • @chipsafan1
    @chipsafan1 Před rokem

    This is the best video I've watched in a long time. I made my way here from a video about Mertens Conjecture.

  • @thedoanzone
    @thedoanzone Před 3 lety +226

    I completely followed this for the first 38 seconds.

    • @jondunmore4268
      @jondunmore4268 Před 3 lety +6

      You got that far, eh?

    • @klam77
      @klam77 Před 3 lety +3

      HA! 39!!!! Whooped your backside!!!! I'm the greatest.......

    • @juggerswood
      @juggerswood Před 3 lety +2

      Weakling, I got 42 seconds in.

    • @shanmukeshr1696
      @shanmukeshr1696 Před 3 lety +1

      I completed the whole video but it's mostly wierd and I have a lot to learn I'm in my 12th grade now

    • @shanmukeshr1696
      @shanmukeshr1696 Před 3 lety +1

      @@klam77 😂😂😂

  • @4grammaton
    @4grammaton Před 3 lety +355

    Can we also have a video about why it's so difficult to prove, or rather why it's been so difficult for mathematicians to find the proof thus far?

    • @2timotei
      @2timotei Před 3 lety +28

      now that you mention it. i also want one

    • @smartfish13
      @smartfish13 Před 3 lety +106

      Unlike many tough math problems, the general consensus is that no one has a clue for how to solve this. Most of the progress that has been made has been to show that it is equivalent to other conjectures, but no one knows how to solve those either. The Wikipedia article has a decent list of some facts, which if proven, would imply the Riemann hypothesis.

    • @u.v.s.5583
      @u.v.s.5583 Před 3 lety +3

      It is complicated. There even is this de Branges thing (if somebody who is not a total nutcase writes down a proof attempt and nobody feels like checking it as that would be too much work)

    • @y__h
      @y__h Před 3 lety +1

      RH feels like a Gödelian Sentence.

    • @u.v.s.5583
      @u.v.s.5583 Před 3 lety +18

      @@y__h It can't be. Why? If you prove RH is undecidable, it follows that a counterexample cannot exist, which implies RH is true, which implies it cannot be undecidable.

  • @michaelknowler3057
    @michaelknowler3057 Před rokem

    Thank you Alex: before this I didn’t really understand the Riemann Hypothesis. Fascinating video, many thanks.

  • @brendanwelch8726
    @brendanwelch8726 Před 9 měsíci

    great video. i can tell a lot of work was put into it. I saw someone on tik tok taking the first minute of your video and using it for views without giving you proper credit

  • @newtonsheikh
    @newtonsheikh Před 3 lety +771

    Imagine if Reimann had a computer back then

    • @grzegorzowczarek3016
      @grzegorzowczarek3016 Před 3 lety +432

      He would lost himself in cat videos and distracted done nothing.

    • @RoshanSharma-mo6vy
      @RoshanSharma-mo6vy Před 3 lety +79

      He would've been on a social networking platform like insta. The man was depressed af man his life was pretty sad. I came to know about him by a book called hyperspace.

    • @99bits46
      @99bits46 Před 3 lety +50

      Probably make a good fortnite player. Remember Reimann wasn't above average mathematician before college and he wanted to pursue Chemistry.

    • @maxwellsequation4887
      @maxwellsequation4887 Před 3 lety +13

      Could be a big thug life moment for mathematics
      Or...
      A big bruh moment....

    • @bulwinkle
      @bulwinkle Před 3 lety +7

      He did have a computer but it was a wetware model.

  • @tanavat555
    @tanavat555 Před 3 lety +152

    I don't usually comment but holy crap, the quality of this video is insane.
    it's nice to see more easy to understand science/math content popping up. thanks for the hard work.

  • @jimmypk1353
    @jimmypk1353 Před rokem +1

    Great animation; even GREATER voice over. Prof. Alex Kontorovich has such a distinctive voice!

  • @khalidsaad9452
    @khalidsaad9452 Před 10 měsíci

    Great video and explanation, it really cleared out why its so sought after.

  • @danreach
    @danreach Před 2 lety +98

    I studied this hypothesis as a senior math seminar project in undergrad. Very tight and clean synopsis. Wish this video existed back then.

  • @Ennocb
    @Ennocb Před 3 lety +124

    Imagine some dude just single-handedly solving this in this CZcams comment section like it was nothing.

    • @aidancanoli
      @aidancanoli Před 3 lety +35

      true and imagine it gets 0 like and is hidden away forever lmaoo :(

    • @goognamgoognw6637
      @goognamgoognw6637 Před 3 lety +5

      @@aidancanoli welcome to my world.

    • @brendandaly5397
      @brendandaly5397 Před 3 lety +9

      Will hunting has ENTERED the chat

    • @Edeinawc
      @Edeinawc Před 3 lety +1

      If some random person solves the problem in the comment section they're most likely full of shit and believe in the levitational properties of mercury.

    • @Ennocb
      @Ennocb Před 3 lety +17

      @@Edeinawc Someone with a real solution would indeed probably prefer another outlet to publish their findings, but I find it amusing to consider the notion of that outlet being this comment section despite better alternatives.

  • @UTKRISTHSIKSHABPSIR
    @UTKRISTHSIKSHABPSIR Před rokem

    Great respect to animation as well as speaker..so easily clear the most hardest concept ever..

  • @ADPuckey
    @ADPuckey Před 5 měsíci +2

    I love this video! The explanation of the hypothesis itself is great, with all the right context and friendly explanations, but more importantly I've never seen such a concise yet captivating description of why the hypothesis matters

  • @laplacia
    @laplacia Před 2 lety +212

    This is the most concise and well-explained Riemann Hypothesis video ever.

    • @HitBoxMaster
      @HitBoxMaster Před rokem +1

      ANd I still couldn't understand much of anything at all.

    • @Silverhand290
      @Silverhand290 Před rokem

      @@HitBoxMaster Me neither, although I think I felt the breeze as it went over my head

    • @grenvthompson
      @grenvthompson Před rokem

      @@HitBoxMaster I have a math degree and don't understand this hypothesis. The video took a couple of leaps that lost me.

    • @raulgalets
      @raulgalets Před rokem

      agreed

  • @milkmayun
    @milkmayun Před 3 lety +175

    This is really good. But that moment at 7:13 where he makes the leap to prime numbers went by waaaay too quickly. I had to stop and rewind and pause to catch the transformation.

    • @AletheiaVV
      @AletheiaVV Před 3 lety +3

      Same

    • @TheMilan0
      @TheMilan0 Před 3 lety +2

      Could have made it easier by writing as multiples of s. Like 0s 1s 2s etc.

    • @xiphosura413
      @xiphosura413 Před 3 lety +4

      Yeah I had to watch that part a few times to get it, the rest of the video went fine!

    • @epajarjestys9981
      @epajarjestys9981 Před 3 lety +11

      @@xiphosura413 The part at 13:14 where he talks about harmonics is where he presents that modified step function and mentions "harmonics" I'm not able to follow anymore. What is he talking about?

    • @ssarmazi
      @ssarmazi Před 3 lety

      Exactly where I got confused.

  • @da33smith37
    @da33smith37 Před 3 měsíci

    Beautifully lucid presentation. Thank you!

  • @capeandcode
    @capeandcode Před 10 měsíci

    This is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen!
    And I am someone who has been horrible at mathematics and failed a bunch of times! But Now I'm working from three years in Computer Science and starting to learn maths from scratch.
    It is surprising to me how awesome mathematics is if only I could find the right tools or people to learn from.

  • @MrAllenmath
    @MrAllenmath Před 2 lety +7

    This is the best video explanation of the Riemann Hypothesis. Thank you for taking the time and effort to produce it.

  • @mikes9645
    @mikes9645 Před 3 lety +15

    Massive props to you for this video. Excellent voice work, animation and music. Re. the content - I learned enough to know that I'd never cut it as a mathematician. But this is about as approachable an explanation as I think anyone could ask for. Thanks for producing this.

  • @eliordadon2938
    @eliordadon2938 Před 8 měsíci +1

    it was fascinating listening to you professor ! you got a new sub

  • @apoorvmishra6992
    @apoorvmishra6992 Před rokem +31

    Being from an engineering background, even I understood the hypothesis. Your video was unbelievably awesome.

    • @johndododoe1411
      @johndododoe1411 Před 10 měsíci +3

      Ditto, though for some steps I would have loved rigorous definitions instead of pattern animations .

  • @aquila7615
    @aquila7615 Před 3 lety +445

    This guy explaining imaginary numbers made more sense than when I learned about them last year in class

    • @Guido_XL
      @Guido_XL Před 2 lety +15

      Complex numbers would make much more sense if you were shown it in its most useful applications, such as electric signals, or mechanical movement. In the Euler's formula, you can see as how a complex number can be understood as consisting of two components: one cosine function to depict the horizontal component, and a sine function to depict the vertical component. Imagine a circular movement of a point in that plane. For each point, there is a cosine component, giving you the projection onto the horizontal, and a sine component, giving you the projection onto the vertical.
      It boils down to a simple triangular calculation. A point in a plane can be expressed by its Cartesian coordinates, or, by its Polar coordinates.
      Consider the imaginary i to map a 90 degree angle on the complex plane. Each time you apply one times i, you move by 90 degrees counter-clockwise. Travel twice 90 degrees (twice i), and you have traveled 180 degrees: you have reached -1. Continue so, and each time you jump one time i, you jump 90 degrees counter-clockwise.

    • @Guido_XL
      @Guido_XL Před 2 lety +6

      It's what we call "quadrature". It is applied in Fourier analysis and integration, and very practically in decoding movement and speed direction of electric motors. A motor-decoder detects the rotation of the motor's axis by using two detectors that are aligned in such as way as to register the axis movement with a 90 degree difference between both detectors. When the movement signal has stabilised the signal of one detector, the other detector is picking up the change of its signal and triggers the output to switch. The output is always well defined by this design, as both detectors never have an overlapping status of their signals. A quadrature design is very clever.
      It is also very useful in the synthesis of complicated signals by mixing a sine and a cosine function, rendering any intended electric signal (as applied in medical ultrasound devices).
      Fourier analysis, quadrature applications, they all revolve around that same concept of complex numbers. It's not just mathematical theory, it is very practical indeed.

    • @alkh3myst
      @alkh3myst Před 2 lety +1

      That's because there are literally a gazilion bad math teachers. This figure was determined using "alkh3myst's conjecture".

    • @ultraderek
      @ultraderek Před 2 lety +1

      @@Guido_XL they make more sense but are still a pain in the butt. It’s so easy to flip a sign.

    • @DrCorndog1
      @DrCorndog1 Před 2 lety +3

      To be fair, though, it's much easier to understand the general problem as presented in a 16-minute video, where the rigorous proofs are omitted and the details smoothed over, than to understand the technical details or to work with the precision required by a semester-long course.

  • @cauliemac9203
    @cauliemac9203 Před 3 lety +691

    Proof by appeal to authority. If Riemann thought it was true, then it is true. Q.E.D

    • @morgiewthelord8648
      @morgiewthelord8648 Před 3 lety +1

      @Keith Smeltz mst-edu haha nice

    • @xTheUnderscorex
      @xTheUnderscorex Před 3 lety +95

      Counterproof by appeal to authority. Riemann thought it needed a proof, so it needs a proof.

    • @willmungas8964
      @willmungas8964 Před 3 lety +3

      @@xTheUnderscorex :(

    • @whatsthisidonteven
      @whatsthisidonteven Před 3 lety +20

      Proof by appeal to the stick. If you _don't_ want your sorry butt kicked, then Riemann's hypothesis is true. Q.E.D.

    • @xTheUnderscorex
      @xTheUnderscorex Před 3 lety +18

      @@whatsthisidonteven Proof by exultation of masochism, I do want my sorry butt kicked so Riemann's hypothesis remains unproven

  • @PaulCashman
    @PaulCashman Před rokem

    Excellent, informative video with truly knockout graphics.

  • @pe1900
    @pe1900 Před 3 lety +50

    the production quality on this is way too high for it to only have a million views. it explains the subject so well with such a unique art style in such a short amount of time. keep up the good work

  • @TheLunkan22
    @TheLunkan22 Před 3 lety +57

    At some point I didn't understand anything but I kept watching cause the animations are just so crisp

  • @beautiful.imagination

    Hi Quanta Magazine
    Thank you for the wondeful topics you teach us. 🌻
    I only understand half of the video could you please explain more about the second half .

  • @karolinagreen4216
    @karolinagreen4216 Před rokem

    these videos actually make me realise how fascinating maths is

  • @horizon210
    @horizon210 Před 2 lety +39

    What a beautifully done and informative video. Thank you for making so difficult a subject so clear. I wish you had been my math teacher.

  • @joedasilva134
    @joedasilva134 Před 2 lety +4

    This was by far, the easiest n best explanation I have ever heard about the Riemann hypothesis.
    Awesome!

  • @TheAtheist22
    @TheAtheist22 Před rokem

    What a beautiful presentation. Thank you. I've subscribed.

  • @IanGrams
    @IanGrams Před 3 lety +10

    I've known of the Riemann Hypothesis for a bit now, but never bothered to try and understand it because I thought it was beyond my comprehension. But wow this video did a great job at explaining what it says, what lead up to it, and what is significant about it. Thank you to all who made this for expanding my understanding!

  • @advaitanand1864
    @advaitanand1864 Před 3 lety +8

    This channel should reach 1 million.👍🏼
    What a content,nicely explained.

  • @GeorgeZoto
    @GeorgeZoto Před 9 měsíci

    Beautifully made and explained topic, thank you for sharing it with us. What an interesting hypothesis 🤔

  • @punk3900
    @punk3900 Před 8 měsíci

    Thank you for this excellent explanation of how much I don't understand the Riemann hypothesis!

  • @tmquangvn
    @tmquangvn Před 3 lety +49

    Put the 1M$ unsolved problem aside, this is so oddly satisfying to watch!

  • @NicolasChanCSY
    @NicolasChanCSY Před 3 lety +4

    I love this video! It explains the main argument of the hypothesis so well! I believe many viewers would love to have more like this!

  • @ryanreynolds7310
    @ryanreynolds7310 Před 10 měsíci

    After having learned about harmonics and finding the fundamental frequency of functions using imaginary numbers from school, my mind has been blown wide open after seeing this video. I’m having a ‘full circle’ moment right now

  • @aroundandround
    @aroundandround Před 9 měsíci +2

    Very nice video. Despite being fairly mathematical, I happened to never technically encounter the Reimann hypothesis or taken the time to really understand it until I watched this video.

  • @Engineeringuncovered
    @Engineeringuncovered Před rokem +1

    What a beautiful explanation of such an advanced topic. I’m an engineer so I have some understanding of higher level math concept, but I showed my girlfriend (a graphic designer) and she understood it too. Thank you

  • @wenbornwilliam
    @wenbornwilliam Před 3 lety +83

    Love the way you illustrate your vids!

  • @jasonleeky453
    @jasonleeky453 Před 2 lety +16

    Im so glad I found this video when it was released. Rewatching this now made me appreciate the language of math so much more now that I'm taking a math degree.

  • @ejharrop1416
    @ejharrop1416 Před rokem +1

    Fascinating and informative. If only we could pass the current state of knowledge back to the masters. What would they think or did they just know. 😮. Thank you

  • @enananbaabanabab
    @enananbaabanabab Před 5 měsíci +2

    my knowledge on this factor has went from 0.1% to 5%, good job kind sir.

  • @torquesjr
    @torquesjr Před 3 lety +10

    Amazing video! Thank you so much for spending the time and effort to make it.

  • @erald.c5588
    @erald.c5588 Před 2 lety +199

    Brilliant explanation. This makes me love math even more. There is so much beauty and mystery in mathematical patterns.

  • @ikkeheltvanlig
    @ikkeheltvanlig Před rokem +1

    This is so mind blowing I'm scared of truly understanding it in fear of losing my mind

  • @anonimettalontana4944

    Interesting topic but the animation was the cherry on the cake. Simply beautiful!

  • @cartifan399
    @cartifan399 Před 3 lety +135

    This seems pretty easy to solve though, I'll give it a try tomorrow.

    • @dtp0119
      @dtp0119 Před 3 lety

      You're joking right

    • @cartifan399
      @cartifan399 Před 3 lety +56

      @@dtp0119 Obviously not.

    • @TheodoreServin
      @TheodoreServin Před 3 lety

      Let me know how it goes

    • @cartifan399
      @cartifan399 Před 3 lety +70

      @@TheodoreServin As I expected it was pretty easy to solve. I won't release the answer though because that would take the fun away from the people still trying to figure this (rather easy) equation out.

    • @lostpony4885
      @lostpony4885 Před 3 lety +8

      Right between breakfast and cold fusion.

  • @johngarnham861
    @johngarnham861 Před 3 lety +52

    I might only understand 10% of this, but I'm still utterly fascinated.