• iopq@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    A Math PhD will eventually make a simple arithmetic mistake if you ask them to do enough problems. That doesn’t invalidate more difficult proofs they have published in papers

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      A Math PhD will eventually make a simple arithmetic mistake if you ask them to do enough problems.

      Which is why we don’t designate a single Math PhD as a definitive source for all mathematical wisdom.

      That doesn’t invalidate more difficult proofs

      If I’m handed a proof with a simple arithmetic mistake in the logic, that absolutely invalidates it

      • iopq@lemmy.world
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        17 hours ago

        But you didn’t say that. You said you can’t trust something that makes basic mistakes. Humans make them all the time. You can’t trust any human?

          • iopq@lemmy.world
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            1 hour ago

            You said

            Imagine a calculator that reported “1+1=3”. It seems silly to use such a machine to do long division.

            Every single person alive has made silly addition mistakes. Is it silly to trust those people with long division?