Whose Honeymoon Story Is Misattributed in Mathematics?

[blerg]

I remember hearing a story about a mathematician who was legendarily prolific; so much so that he described his honeymoon as being one of the most unproductive times in this life because he only wrote one paper.

I wanted to include this story in my personal statement for grad school applications, but I can't remember for the life of me who the story was about.

My first thought was Erdos, but he was never married, so I guess its not him.

Please help me remember!

 

[Little ant]

my teacher sad, he is Gauss.

 

[Office_Shredder]

http://books.google.com/books?id=Cn...EwAg#v=onepage&q=dickson would often&f=false"

I highly doubt this story originated as a true story based on a mathematician, at which point you might as well just plug in whoever's name you want

 

[blerg]

http://books.google.com/books?id=Cn...EwAg#v=onepage&q=dickson would often&f=false"

I highly doubt this story originated as a true story based on a mathematician, at which point you might as well just plug in whoever's name you want

Thank you very much! You also solved the mystery of where I read that...that is the book I first learned abstract algebra from! We'll see if the anecdote actually makes it into my personal statement. Figured it was something funny without trying to be too funny.

 

[CellCoree]

I understand the importance of proper attribution in storytelling and academic writing. In this case, the story you are referring to is commonly attributed to the mathematician Paul Erdős. However, as you mentioned, Erdős was never married, so it is likely that this story has been misattributed to him over time. This is a common issue in the scientific community, as stories and anecdotes can become detached from their original source and attributed to well-known figures.

I would suggest doing some further research to try and identify the true source of this story. This could involve reaching out to colleagues or professors who may be familiar with the story, or conducting a thorough literature search to see if it has been published in any reputable sources. If all else fails, it may be best to simply omit the story from your personal statement rather than risk misattributing it to the wrong person.

In any case, it is always important to be diligent in properly attributing any information or stories that you include in your writing. This not only ensures accuracy, but also shows respect for the original source and their contributions. Good luck in your search for the true source of this story.