[net.math] Story about G. H. Hardy and Ramanujan

jan@ascvax.UUCP (Jan Woellhaf) (10/27/85)

In the book *A Handbook for Scholars* by Mary-Claire vanLeunen (p 141),
there's the story of a letter sent to mathematician G. H. Hardy by a
poor Indian sweeper boy, Ramanujan.  The letter points out a fundamental
error in Hardy's work and leads to a lasting collaboration and friendship
between the two men.  Can anyone cite a reference to this story other than
the one Ms. vanLeunen says is in C. P. Snow's introduction to Hardy's
autobiography?  Please mail responses to me and I'll summarize.
    Jan Woellhaf
    Ampex Switcher Company
    10604 W 48th Ave
    Wheat Ridge, CO  80033
    303 423-1300
    seismo!hao!ascvax!jan

hen@bu-cs.UUCP (Bill Henneman) (10/29/85)

Hardy wrote a book called  'Ramanujan', which was available from Chelsea
publishers.  The first chapter is the story of their collaboration.

The book has some really funny lines scattered throughout.  My favorite
(quoting from memory I read the book 25 years ago),
	It is unthinkable that anyone should go through life believing
	that all the zeros of the Riemann Zeta funcion are real.