NOVEL NEXT chapter 22
22. Seventy-nine
Police bounty 2 million won.
The thing my mother bought as a bounty was none other than a computer.
“I’m sorry that I just bought a computer that all the other kids have.”
I said with a frown.
“I really don’t need a computer.”
This was sincere.
As I remember computers and smartphones in the late 2010s, the 486 computer was just a piece of scrap metal.
I spoke with a sad expression on my face.
“I want my mom to get a degree from BangTong University soon.”
“really? haha–! I know it’s empty… Thanks anyway, son.”
“I’m not just saying that! Really!”
My mother looked at me with a surprised expression at my raised voice.
“Hey Jungho… .”
“ah… I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be angry… .”
My mother cut off my horse.
“Jeong-ho, I’m going to stop taking Chinese classes at Mom’s TV station.”
“Why, why?”
It was a stupid question.
Are you sure you don’t have money?
I was upset at the thought that my mother had to stop studying because there was no tuition.
My mother said while stroking my hair at my question.
“Bangtongdae class… There was nothing more to learn.”
“… .”
“And Jung-ho, maybe… Do you think our situation is difficult?”
“… .”
“it is not so. Even if it wasn’t for the bounty, my mother originally wanted to buy Jung-ho a good computer.”
“Mom… .”
“If my mother earns money as a lecturer at a private academy, the two of us may not be able to afford it… I can live without a lot of shortcomings. So, Mom wants our Jung-ho not to worry about money and to study hard for what he wants to do.”
I sat in front of the computer at my mother’s words, and I didn’t know what to do with this lump of scrap metal… .
The sound of the keyboard squeaking was annoying.
All that came out was a sigh.
The role of computers in modern mathematics is important.
In particular, as various software dedicated to mathematics began to pour out around 2000, computers became an essential tool for research in all fields of mathematics.
The study of the Riemann hypothesis was no exception.
For example, when approaching the Riemann hypothesis analytically, if you know the pattern of the Riemann zeta function in a specific area, it will be very helpful in guiding the proof.
For reference, since the Riemann zeta function is a function made up of infinite series, it is virtually impossible for a person to calculate and draw the function value directly.
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Not only this.
With the development of computers, statistical research on the position and distribution of the zero point of the Riemann zeta function begins in earnest. Through this study, the hidden connection between the Riemann hypothesis and algebra is also revealed.
Well, let’s recap… It is said that computers would be of great help in studying the Riemann hypothesis, but there was not much I could do with the mass of 486 scrap metal lying in front of me.
This is not really a problem with the computer itself.
Even on a 486 computer, simple operations such as infinite series are fast enough.
The problem was that there was no app or software that could draw complex complex functions like the Riemann zeta function and a crude operating system like DOS.
As I took a deep breath, I suddenly thought of what it would be like to create the necessary software myself.
In fact, the mapping program for mathematical functions does not require very complex code.
It is done by repeatedly inserting the values of different coordinates into the given mathematical function expression, and printing the resulting function value on the complex plane.
If you draw a contour line using these values, you can predict the approximate shape of the 3D function.
And in the case of infinite series calculations, if you cut off the 100-1000th term, you can get a sufficiently accurate approximation.
OK!
I decided to try making the software I needed myself.
Over the weekend, I visited the Gangseo-gu library and opened up some computer programming books, including C++.
I remember taking a numerical analysis class when I was in graduate school.
In that class, I learned a language called FORTRAN in a superficial way, but this is the first time I have systematically studied a computer language like this.
The more I turned the pages, the more I felt that the theoretical background of computer languages was similar to algebra including linear algebra.
When I read a book in the library, I focused on understanding the theory and principle, and the contents of the page where the example appeared were made into an image and stored in my head.
When I got home, I started installing the C++ compiler on a 486 piece of scrap metal.
The first 3.5-inch diskette containing the C++ compiler was inserted into the computer, and after repeating the four diskettes in and out, I could see the message that the compiler installation was complete.
I entered the code of the first example problem that I studied in the library, and gave the compile command with a pounding heart.
Also! It works fine as expected.
I tried the other example problems I remembered in my head, and most of the programs ran without errors, but an error occurred in one or two example problems.
It wasn’t my mistake.
When I was studying while looking at books in the library, I was nervous, but when I wrote and ran the code myself, an error message came up as expected, and when I fixed the code I thought was a problem, the generated EXE file worked properly.
computer coding… This is more fun than I thought.
What? It’s like talking to a computer.
The code that gives commands to the computer must be clear line by line, and the grammar of the language used by the computer must be strictly adhered to.
If there is an error in even one place, the compilation fails, and even if it is compiled, the correct result value is not returned.
It’s like math.
In the process of developing a formula line by line, logic with a clear basis is added one by one, and when formula development is completed without a single error, a mathematical theory is proven.
Without realizing it, I fell into the coding saga.
Come to think of it… .
Lately, I have never been so immersed in studying.
When you immerse yourself in the endorphins, it feels like this… It’s really been a long time.
1 year ago.
I felt like I was blocked by a huge wall.
I expected it, but… The proof of the Riemann hypothesis was so tightly blocked.
So, the breakthrough I found was quantum mechanics that started from Dirac’s equation, and so I have been focusing on quantum mechanics study for the past year.
With the vague expectation that the clue to the proof of the Riemann hypothesis can be found in quantum mechanics.
However… Even studying quantum mechanics hit a wall.
The ultimate king of quantum mechanics is string theory.
Because string theory is the study of microscopic worlds smaller than atoms, actual laboratory tests are impossible.
Therefore, string theory researchers need the help of mathematics, especially topology, for thought experiments or extension of theories.
In my last life, my Ph.D. major was topology, and there was a guy who bothered me.
Craig Griffin.
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Nickname is Crazy Griffin.
As the nickname suggests, this guy was a real nerd, and because of this guy, I even had a bad prejudice against graduate students majoring in theoretical physics.
Anyway, Craig was my dorm roommate and my unofficial guardian(?) in graduate school.
The reason Craig acted as my guardian was because there were quite a few things I couldn’t do as a minor, and he helped me every time.
For example, booking flights and hotels for conferences.
The subject of Craig’s thesis was superstring theory, and his ultimate goal was to theoretically predict the values of physical constants such as Faraday’s constant and Planck’s constant.
Since knowledge of topology is essential to understand string theory, I helped Craig’s research quite a bit, and I was even listed as a co-author in two papers published by him as the main author.
There is one belief that has arisen since I started studying quantum mechanics a year ago.
It is the belief that prime numbers contain the mathematical meaning of being divisible only by 1 and itself, as well as the fundamental principles that make up this universe.
In other words, the starting point of the proof of the Riemann hypothesis is not in the realm of mathematics such as analysis or topology… That means it has to be quantum mechanics, especially string theory.
The problem is that it is 1994, and most of the research results of string theory have not yet been published.
Most of the things I remember from helping Craig in the past life… It is not an important research result of string theory, but a methodological content that requires mathematical skill.
So, my study of quantum mechanics is blocked by string theory, and as a result, the work of proving the Riemann hypothesis is also not progressing.
The frequency of meeting with Professor Park Soo-soo also decreased.
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Now, he visits Korea University once every two or three months, and even when he meets Professor Park, he spends time talking about the current state of mathematics rather than talking about research on the Riemann hypothesis.
In this situation, computer coding gave me the joy of learning new things.
How much time has passed?
I turned my head to check the living room clock, and my mother was sitting on the sofa looking at me.
“oh! Mom, when did you come out?”
Mother got up from the sofa with a long yawn and walked over to the computer desk.
“I’ll have to move the computer to your room tomorrow.”
ah… !
He was so engrossed in the coding that he didn’t even notice the sound of the keyboard tapping.
“Isn’t it very noisy?”
At my question, my mother smiled silently and stroked my hair.
Checking the watch… The clock hand points to 3:25 in the morning.
what?
After dinner, I turned on the computer at 7 o’clock… .
Have you been coding for eight and a half hours until now?
no wonder… .
I was more hungry than sleepy.
I told my mother.
“Mom, I’m sorry. Didn’t you tell me to stop?”
“Actually, it’s been a long time since our Jeongho worked so hard for something… . It felt good to see my mom from behind.”
“You still told me, didn’t you? It’s already past 3:30… .”
Mother shook her head and said.
“No, actually, my mother also learned one thing while studying foreign languages.”
“What is it?”
“If you immerse yourself so deeply that you don’t even know how time flies, you feel so much better. Well… What? Studying hard like that makes people really happy.”
ah… !
I knew that my mother liked to study foreign languages, but I didn’t know it was this much.
“Mom… .”
“why?”
“Mom, can’t we start the class again?”
My mother said with a frown on my question.
“He… Why are you all of a sudden bringing up the story again?”
“I really want to see my mom wear a bachelor’s cap after completing her degree.”
Mother said with a smirk.
“What kind of algebra do you think a bachelor’s hat is? mom really I don’t have anything else to study, so I’m going to stop taking Chinese classes.”
Seeing my still disbelieving expression on my face, my mother sighed and said.
“I was going to let you know when the results came out later, but actually… I took the mother’s certification exam.”
“A certificate? What qualifications do you have?”
My mother smiled at my question.
“Chinese translator license.”