User blog:Edwin Shade/An Intriguing Discovery

While at my local library I was browsing the mathematics section, which I am most fond of, though it is quite small. I was searching for some books which I had not read, which would hardly come as a surprise, since the library only possessed a few dozen math books, (not counting textbooks or math-guides). I finally settled on a hardcover copy of Paul Hoffman's The Man Who Loved Only Numbers, which I then took out and brought home.

After bringing the book home I put it on the table, which must have loosened something, because as soon as I let it down a flap became apparent between the hardcover and the jacket of the book, which was taped in place. Curiosity taking the better of me, I carefully undid the tape of the jacket and pulled on the flap, which proved to be a folded sheet of notebook paper, evidently blank. At least I thought it was blank until I unfolded it, and to my surprise was confronted with what appeared to be an old letter. A photograph of it has been provided below, along with a transcription of it, to aid those who may not be able to resolve the picture clearly.



Transcription:                                                                                                                                                     

To Alpheus                                                                                                                                          23/7/94

I have read your last letter with zeal, and am looking forward to your response to this one ! After years of exasperating dead-ends and near-misses, I have formulated a solution to the infamous hailstone conjecture ! The details are rather abstruse, but still wholly accessible to those well-acquainted with elementary number theory - and a great deal of patience ! The reams of pages containing the proof number simply too many to supply you with even the briefest recapitulation of the contents within. In short, you'll have to come over sometime to see them. (Perhaps after Rachel's wedding ?)

Now I shift the attention to you and ask: how are you faring in your mathematical endeavors ? Seeing someone your age pursue mathematics professionally is refreshing, and reminds me when I first began taking mathematics seriously as an undergraduate.

Sincerely, Ikol [Page smudged with a spilled drink and torn; here I am assuming Ikol's last name would have been written.]

End of Transcription

All I had to say to this was wow ! Though posing some questions, (such as how the letter even made it's way into the library book), I thought this was worthwhile enough to share with the community. Personally, I feel skeptical about the validity of Ikol's supposed 'proof', because if there was a proof, it should have been published a long while ago. Regardless, might not have such a 'proof' contained other valuable insights, perhaps which would have progressed number theory tremendously if they were someday revealed ?