Who is your favourite fictional mathematician?

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Submitted by plusadmin on 28 April, 2010

Due to popular demand, we're revisiting our poll to find your favourite fictional mathematician.

It is quite difficult to compile a list of fictional mathematicians. Scientists are often portrayed in films — usually as mad — but there are very few who are specialised mathematicians. Here at Plus, we have come up with a list that we think covers most well-known fictional mathematicians, although it is debatable whether some are even mathematicians at all! We are asking for your opinion — who is your favourite?

Have we missed yours off the list? Please leave a comment and let us know. We will write a biography of the character who wins the poll.

Permalink Submitted by Rachel on 8 July, 2010

Oh. My. Gosh. How could you miss Andrew Jackson "Slipstick" Libby? Add him right in and change 60% of the votes so far to him on the conservative assumption that at least that portion of the crowd would have voted for him.

OK, in case you've never heard of him, he's a talented mathematician and "lightning calculator" that appears in several of Robert Heinlein's science fiction novels, including being a recurring character in his "future history."

Or must I vote for Charlie Epps? :-)

Permalink Submitted by Rachel on 8 July, 2010

I wish I could've voted for Will Hunting AND Charlie Epps. But I had to go for Will.