Quote:
Originally Posted by AnemicOak
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Daithi
The discussion on PhysicsForums concerning the kids solution is pretty interesting. The consensus seems to be that the media is jumping the gun a tad. They seem to think the kid was able solve the DE using a Taylor series, which doesn't count as a "closed-form solution". Although, still impressive for a 16-year-old.
As HallsofIvy said on the forums, "What really seems strange to me is that the solution to a problem proposed by Newton and unsolved by mathematicians and physicists for 300 years would win second prize in a local school competition. I want to see the paper that won the first prize!" |
Thanks you both for the links to additional information. I would appear that if the solution Ray computed turns out to be correct it is only an alternate infinite series solution to join others that have been found in the past. Indeed it is not a closed-form solution to the problem. That I feel probably does not exist. A remarkable achievement for such a young man, but not justification for the headlines in the popular press. I took a stab at verifying the series solution, but soon gave up. My mathematics skills are not at the level of over thirty years ago when I was in graduate school.
I am also very curious as to what took first prize and why that has not appeared in the media.