Some math problems are as old as the wind, experts say and many remain truly unsolved. But a new open source-based site from the American Institute of Mathematics (AIM) looks to help track work done and solve long-standing and difficult math problems.
The Institute along with the National Science Foundation will on Wednesday open the AIM Problem Lists site to offer an organized and annotated collection of unsolved problems, and previously unsolved problems, in a specialized area of mathematics research. The problem list provides a snapshot of the current state of research in a particular research area, letting experts track new developments, and newcomers to gain a perspective on the subject, AIM stated in a release.
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Research problems can take decades or centuries to answer, with partial solutions spawning new problems along the way, AIM stated. Keeping track of all the problems is difficult, even for experts. Sometimes the solution needs an idea from another field, and it can take a long time for someone to notice the connection, AIM stated.
Problems will be assigned permanent numbers and Web addresses and problem lists will be open to editing by anyone, but with an approval system and oversight by expert editors that provide a guarantee of scholarly integrity, AIM stated.
The Problem List debut coincides with "RH Day" to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Riemann Hypothesis - what AIM called the most important unsolved math problem.
The Riemann Hypothesis was mentioned a part of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Mathematical Challenges last year that is looking to solve the world's 23 toughest math questions.
The Problem Lists will be archived on Harvard University's IQSS Dataverse Network.
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