Explanation for mathematical illiterates?
A very wrong proof once showed that the sum of all positive integers (1 + 2 + 3 + 4...) was -1/12. In reality, the infinite sum has no solution, so this proof became something of a meme.
Technically technically, in some number fields (not the natural numbers) it is correct, but since it doesn't apply to all number systems it's incorrect to say it's the answer without also specifying you're using a nonstandard number system.
As someone else said, it's used in quantum physics where a lot of fancy math is used in complex number fields.
Ramanujan was a God tier memester
Thank you!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1_%2B_2_%2B_3_%2B_4_%2B_⋯
TL;DR: in some interpretations, 1 + 2 + 3 + … equals to -1/12. This interpretation has actually found some uses in physics. In general, this is not widely accepted as it depends on a specialized meaning of the equals sign. It shouldn’t be used unless you really know what you’re doing.
This is how you make a black hole isn't it?
Basically there's this meme that 1+2+3...= -1/12, which isn't true, but is related to something that is true.
I'm not smart enough to explain it but it's a reference to Ramanujan Summation if you want to read about it yourself.
And here a presentation of why the above is wrong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuIIjLr6vUA
It's covered in the first 9 minutes of the video, followed by other fun math stuff related to it.
buffer overflow in reality
Epic
