Atle selberg paul erdos biography

Paul Erdos, mathematician, died on September 20 aged He was born on March 26,

Paul Erdos was regarded by fellow mathematicians as the most brilliant, if eccentric, mind in his field. Because he had no interest in anything but numbers, his name was not well known outside the mathematical fraternity.

He wrote no best-selling books, and showed a stoic disregard for worldly success and personal comfort, living out of a suitcase for much of his adult life. The money he made from prizes he gave away to fellow mathematicians whom he considered to be needier than himself.

"Property is a nuisance," was his succinct evaluation.

Mathematics was his life and his only interest from earliest childhood onwards.

Atle selberg paul erdos biography wikipedia

He became the most prolific mathematician of his generation, writing or co-authoring 1, papers and still publishing one a week in his seventies. His research spanned many areas, but it was in number theory that he was considered a genius.

He set problems that were often easy to state,