
The SciencesJuly 1, 1988
Randomness in Arithmetic
It is impossible to prove whether each member of a family of algebraic equations has a finite or an infinite number of solutions: the answers vary randomly and therefore elude mathematical reasoning

Randomness in Arithmetic
It is impossible to prove whether each member of a family of algebraic equations has a finite or an infinite number of solutions: the answers vary randomly and therefore elude mathematical reasoning

Randomness and Mathematical Proof
Although randomness can be precisely defined and can even be measured, a given number cannot be proved to be random. This enigma establishes a limit to what is possible in mathematics