London's 1729 licence plate has long been synonymous with the city's rich history of mathematics and innovation. For G.H. Hardy, a chance encounter with his Indian colleague Srinivasa Ramanujan on a hansom cab in 1919 would change his life forever.
The story goes that Hardy spotted the licence plate - number 1729 - on the cab and thought it dull, but Ramanujan was adamant that it was anything but. "It is a very interesting number," he said, "for it is the smallest number expressible as the sum of two cubes in two different ways: 1^3 + 12^3 = 9^3 + 10^3."
Hardy's anecdote would go on to inspire a mathematical concept - known as taxicab numbers - which refers to any number that can be expressed as the smallest sum of two cubes in 'n' different ways. And, it seems, this idea is about to take center stage in London with the opening of its very own maths school, aptly named the 1729 Maths School.
This innovative institution aims to nurture top mathematical talent from a young age and has already garnered significant backing from maths philanthropists Alex Gerko and Elena. With bursaries available for students who cannot afford the fees, this school promises to be a game-changer for London's next generation of mathematicians.
As London continues to thrive as a hub for mathematics and innovation, one thing is certain - the city will always have a knack for producing remarkable stories, like that of G.H. Hardy and Srinivasa Ramanujan, which continue to inspire generations of mathematicians to come.
Now, onto this week's puzzles! But before we dive in, let us take a moment to appreciate the iconic London taxi - an integral part of the city's fabric. What is it about these classic vehicles that continues to captivate us?
The story goes that Hardy spotted the licence plate - number 1729 - on the cab and thought it dull, but Ramanujan was adamant that it was anything but. "It is a very interesting number," he said, "for it is the smallest number expressible as the sum of two cubes in two different ways: 1^3 + 12^3 = 9^3 + 10^3."
Hardy's anecdote would go on to inspire a mathematical concept - known as taxicab numbers - which refers to any number that can be expressed as the smallest sum of two cubes in 'n' different ways. And, it seems, this idea is about to take center stage in London with the opening of its very own maths school, aptly named the 1729 Maths School.
This innovative institution aims to nurture top mathematical talent from a young age and has already garnered significant backing from maths philanthropists Alex Gerko and Elena. With bursaries available for students who cannot afford the fees, this school promises to be a game-changer for London's next generation of mathematicians.
As London continues to thrive as a hub for mathematics and innovation, one thing is certain - the city will always have a knack for producing remarkable stories, like that of G.H. Hardy and Srinivasa Ramanujan, which continue to inspire generations of mathematicians to come.
Now, onto this week's puzzles! But before we dive in, let us take a moment to appreciate the iconic London taxi - an integral part of the city's fabric. What is it about these classic vehicles that continues to captivate us?
so much! but anyway, back to maths... i never knew there were numbers that could be expressed as sum of two cubes in different ways?! that sounds like magic lol. can someone explain how that works? like, 1^3 + 12^3 = ? i dont get it 
. is it possible to drive one nowadays?
! It's amazing how something as simple as a licence plate can inspire a whole school dedicated to nurturing future geniuses in maths 
. And I gotta say, it's great that they're offering bursaries for students who can't afford the fees - that's just so cool 
. It's like Alex Gerko and Elena are spreading the love of maths far and wide 
. I mean, what's not to love about a city that produces stories like G.H. Hardy and Srinivasa Ramanujan? 
I mean, who wouldn't wanna be part of the story behind one of the most interesting numbers ever 
! It's like, imagine having this amazing resource right in your backyard, and it's not just about solving equations, but also learning from legendary mathematicians like Ramanujan 
. I'm totes excited for the future of maths education in London! 
#MathsInnovation #LondonPride #TaxicabNumbers
. I think what I love most is the way they seem to be from another era - like, they've seen it all, right? And now we're getting a whole school dedicated to math, which is pretty cool...I guess what's interesting about 1729 though? Is it really that special or was Hardy just having a bad day with his taxi fare? 