Monday, 4 May 2020

CALL FOR THE DEAD (JOHN LE CARRÉ) AND ROUCHÉ-FRÖBENIUS THEOREM

"Loose ends everywhere. No police work. Nothing checked. Like algebra."
"What's algebra got to do with it?"
"You've got to prove what can be proved, first. Find the constants. Did she really go to the theatre? Was she alone? Did the neighbours hear her come back? If so, what time? Was Fennan really late Tuesdays? Did his Missus go to the theatre regular every fortnight like she said?"




It´s great that detectives use mathematics methods in their work. You can’t rush an investigation. The first thing you have to find out is whether a solution even exists. Or, in mathematicians’ terms, whether the system of equations is compatible with the data. Because, what´s the point in trying to solve something that has no solution?

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