Mathematics on the Road
Here is a story about the topologist R H Bing (1914-1986):
One day R H Bing was driving a group of mathematicians to a conference. As usual, Bing launched into a detailed discussion of a particular problem in topology that he wanted to solve. The passengers were nearly as initerested in the math as Bing, but they were rather nervous because the weather was bad, visibility poor, and there was lots of traffic. Bing did not seem to be giving the matter his full attention. To make matters worse, the windshield was completely fogged over and it was nearly impossible to see. A sigh of relief was quitely breathed when Bing began to reach toward the windshield. Everyone supposed that he was going to wipe the windshield clear and pay attention to what was happening on the dark and stormy road. Instead, Bing started drawing diagrams with his finger in the windshield mist.
References
- R. Hersh, V. John-Steiner, Loving + Hating Mathematics, Princeton University Press, 2011.
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