A Nigerian professor recently claimed that he has solved a 156-year-old math problem that had baffled experts since its equation was first presented.
Most math problems are hard to solve that it is common for people and even scholars to take some time before a solution can be made. If a math problem, however, takes more than a century to be cracked, then it is most probably one of the most difficult puzzles there is.
Dr. Opeyemi Enoch from Federal University in Oye-Ekiti believes that he has cracked the Riemann Hypothesis, which was first proposed in 1859 by a German mathematician named Bernhard Riemann.
Enoch was said to have studied and established claims regarding the hypothesis. He then considered and corrected the misinterpretations that were discussed by experts in the past hence, opening up a path to his solutions.
Enoch was also said to have demonstrated how other similar problems can be created and how its solutions could be applied in quantum science and cryptography.
The Riemann hypothesis, which entails the distribution of prime numbers, is one of the seven millennium problems determined by the Clay Mathematics Institute (CMI), in Massachusetts. The seven millennium problems are recognized to be the most difficult problem to crack.
CMI is exerting efforts to encourage people and support students to take up mathematical studies. Aside from that, CMI also acknowledges outstanding attainments in the field of mathematics.
With the respect that CMI gives to the seven millennium problems, as well as its goal of recognizing talented individuals, the Board of Directors has allocated $7 million prize fund to individuals who can provide accurate solutions to what may probably be the most challenging academic equations of all time.
If Enoch has truly cracked the solution to the Riemann hypothesis, then he should receive $1 million for his work.
CMI, however, said that Enoch has not contacted the organization yet and that the problem is still considered unsolved. CMI's Naomi Kraker explained that for a problem to be recognized as "solved," the findings of the investigations should be published in an internationally reputable journal.
"To my knowledge it has not been published," said Kraker. "To our mind, it remains unsolved."
Aside from the publication requirement, CMI also necessitates the problem solver to accomplish several other prerequisites such as acceptance of the solution in the mathematical community two years following publication and the formation of an internal advisory committee to review the case.
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