Stanford and Uc Berkeley Create Massively Collaborative Math

Have you been pondering the probability that two random integers are relatively prime? The answer—6/π²—awaits you in cyberspace.

In a stunning example of the power of the Internet to attract and connect the smartest minds on earth around the most difficult problems, scholars at UC Berkeley and Stanford have created a free website, called MathOverflow, which is transforming math research.

The format is simple. By linking questions and answers from hands-on participants, each small solution builds toward a larger understanding, accelerating research. And it proves that mass collaboration can greatly expand human problem-solving abilities.

From San Jose Mercury News
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