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Re:Interview with Terence Tao by tel on Monday September 29, 2014 @09:55AM (#8382848)
There's a fascinating story with respect to this.

Alexandre Grothendieck is a famous mathematician known for his incredibly abstract methodologies. He once compared his technique to mathematics to the norm by relating standard mathematical methods as using a sledgehammer to open a nut. To him, his method was to slowly raise the water level and soak the nut until its shell becomes soft and he can open it with just a little pressure from his hand.

However, his highly abstract nature got him in trouble at least once.

One time in discussion a colleague of Grothendieck asked him to consider the argument for a concrete example of prime number. "You mean an actual number?" replied Grothendieck. "Alright, well then take 57".

And now 57 is known as the Grothendieck Prime.

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