Proofs from THE BOOK
This revised and enlarged fifth edition features four new chapters, which contain highly original and delightful proofs for classics such as the spectral theorem from linear algebra, some more recent jewels like the non-existence of the Borromean rin
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Proofs from THE BOOK Fifth Edition
Martin Aigner Günter M. Ziegler
Proofs from THE BOOK Fifth Edition
Martin Aigner Günter M. Ziegler
Proofs from THE BOOK Fifth Edition
Including Illustrations by Karl H. Hofmann
123
Günter M. Ziegler Freie Universität Berlin Berlin, Germany
Martin Aigner Freie Universität Berlin Berlin, Germany
ISBN 978-3-662-44204-3 DOI 10.1007/978-3-662-44205-0
ISBN 978-3-662-44205-0 (eBook)
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilm or in any other way, and storage in data banks. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the German Copyright Law of September 9, 1965, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer. Violations are liable to prosecution under the German Copyright Law. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. Coverdesign: deblik, Berlin Printed on acid-free paper Springer is Part of Springer Science+Business Media www.springer.com
Preface
Paul Erd˝os liked to talk about The Book, in which God maintains the perfect proofs for mathematical theorems, following the dictum of G. H. Hardy that there is no permanent place for ugly mathematics. Erd˝os also said that you need not believe in God but, as a mathematician, you should believe in The Book. A few years ago, we suggested to him to write up a first (and very modest) approximation to The Book. He was enthusiastic about the idea and, characteristically, went to work immediately, filling page after page with his suggestions. Our book was supposed to appear in March 1998 as a present to Erd˝os’ 85th birthday. With Paul’s unfortunate death in the summer of 1996, he is not listed as a co-author. Instead this book is dedicated to his memory. We have no definition or characterization of what constitutes a proof from The Book: all we offer here is the examples that we have selected, hoping that our readers will share our enthusiasm about brilliant ideas, clever insights and wonderful observations. We also hope that our readers will enjoy this despite the imperfections of our exposition. The selection is to a great extent influenced by Paul Erd˝os himself. A large number of the topics were suggested by him, and many of the proofs trace directly back to him, or were initiated by his supreme insight in asking the right question or in making the right conjecture. So to a large extent this book reflects the views of Paul Erd˝os as to what should be considered a proof from The Book. A limiting factor for our selection of topics was that everything in this book is supposed to be accessible to re
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