[Dixonary] The number 1729

[Scott Crom]

For the numerically minded among you: the number 1729 is the
only number which can be expressed as the sum of two cubes in two
different ways. It's equal to 12^3 + 1^3 and is also equal to
10^3 + 9^3.

No, There will not be a quiz...

Scott

[Judy Madnick]

----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Scott Crom" <croms (AT) beloit (DOT) edu>

<< For the numerically minded among you: the number 1729 is the
<< only number which can be expressed as the sum of two cubes in two
<< different ways. It's equal to 12^3 + 1^3 and is also equal to
<< 10^3 + 9^3.

Interesting but, okay, did you know that off the top of your head?

<< No, There will not be a quiz...

Thank goodness!

Judy Madnick
Albany, NY

[mshefler]

For the numerically minded among you: the number 1729 is the
only number which can be expressed as the sum of two cubes in two
different ways. It's equal to 12^3 + 1^3 and is also equal to
10^3 + 9^3.

No, There will not be a quiz...

Scott
Scott,

No, it's not the ONLY number that can be expressed as the sum of 2 different sets of cubes; it's the SMALLEST number that can be so expressed. These numbers are called taxicab numbers after a story about the Indian mathematician Ramanujan. See the link http://www.maa.org/mathland/mathtrek_07_22_02.html for further information.

Mike Shefler