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May 2005

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Subject:
From:
Reef Fish <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
SCUBA or ELSE! Diver's forum <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 7 May 2005 18:08:04 -0400
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On Sun, 10 Apr 2005 17:37:37 +0800, Bjorn Vang Jensen
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>> In short, I think every eccentric or crazy mathematician will
>> eventually be introduced in that book.
>
>I'll have to disappoint you. In an error that will hopefully be
>corrected in the next printing, you are not mentioned :-)

The Erdos book was so fascinating (to me) that it not only will be the
first book in the last 40 years I'll have read every page when I am
finished with it, but also the first math related book I've BOUGHT the
last 20 years or so.  :-)

When I went to a bookstore in an ATL mall while Sue was shopping, and
found out how cheaply I could order a copy of the Erdos book, I
immediately ordered a copy, and told Bjorn to send me his snail
address so that I can return to him either the new copy or the old
copy without delay.

While Bjorn graciously and generously told me that I don't need to
mail it back to him, but pass it on to someone (which I already did)
who might enjoy it, he made a statement to the effect that he never
re-read any book because of his "photographic memory" which I
immediately challenged because I have not seen the evidence of
anyone who can prove "photographic memory" even though many claimed
they had (including myself <G>).

So, in the interest of testing Bjorn's photographic film, and
whether they got wet as often as his camera and strobe did, I'll
pose TWO little questions at a time -- these questions will be
difficult for anyone, even those who have read the Erdos book,
but for someone who has photographic memory, the phtos should pop
out and the answers should be EASY.

I pose only TWO questions at a time -- there are dozens of much
harder ones whose answers are in the book -- because I think
Bjorn will probably find his film had been over-exposed for having
gone through too many X-ray machines at the airport.  :-)


Question 1:  What is the significance of the number 16998 ?

Question 2:  What is the significance of the number 3,021,377 ?

Cheating by webpage search is not allowed.  :-)

-- Bob.

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