Problem solved

Nets Hawk Katz is drawn to unsolvable problems. The math professor recently solved the Paul Erdös Distinct Distances Problem, a fancy name for a 65-year-old math problem.

Katz, with Larry Guth of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, was able to combine the algebraic method with topological math to solve the Erdos distance problem in three months.

Instead of basking in the glory of his success, Katz quickly moved on to a new project. “Some people are really good at developing a big idea and turning it into a cash cow with lots of elaboration and follow up,” he says. “I find it a lot more fun to work on problems where I don’t think I have a very good chance of solving them.”

While Katz says this breakthrough will eventually have some use in the real world, he admits that’s not his main concern when solving a problem. “Pure mathematicians don’t worry immediately about what the applications are of what we’re doing,” he says.