#30DaysOfScikuChallenge
The Beauty in Numbers
Day 4 Prompt: Mathematics inspired Haiku
Sum of all numbers from one to infinity equal fraction Ramanujan Summation
Can the sum of all positive integers equals −1/12 — puzzled — read on!
You are not alone if the above statement left you feeling bumfuzzled— How can that be — We understand how the world works, and 1+1 is usually 2 — right? Recently I read an article where a mathematician explained patiently that the sum of all positive integers, that is, 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + . . . and so on to infinity is equal to . . . −1/12. If you are interested in the details — they are found in this article.
Briefly, this is a specific series known as the Ramanujan Summation, named after a famous Indian mathematician named Srinivasa Ramanujan. It states that if you add all the natural numbers — that is — 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on, all the way to infinity, you can prove that it comes equal to -1/12. Yup that comes out to -0.08333333333.
Mathematical works are often unexpectedly elegant in their simplicity and beauty, revealing the magic in numbers.
In the words of Mathematician-turned-philosopher Bertrand Russell (1872–1970) in A History of Western Philosophy:
Mathematics, rightly viewed, possesses not only truth, but supreme beauty — a beauty cold and austere, like that of sculpture, without appeal to any part of our weaker nature, without the gorgeous trappings of painting or music, yet sublimely pure, and capable of a stern perfection such as only the greatest art can show.
**This is Day 4 of the #sciku challenge — science-inspired haiku ( so #sciku?) prompts to get you inspired — Our dear readers — why not spend some time each day creating and having a little fun — if you do — publish it anywhere on medium, just tag it with — #30DaysOfScikuChallenge.
**If Haikus/SciKus are not your thing, feel free to exercise your artistic creativity and write another form of a science-inspired story — I can’t wait to read what you come up with.
Tagging Dr. Fatima Imam Elan Cassandra Shruthi Sundaram Genius Turner Greg Barber and anyone else who feels inspired to follow and/or play along with this fun #30DaysOfScikuChallenge and today’s prompt: Mathematics
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