The Quest for the Lowest Erd?s-Bacon Number
Have you ever heard of the Erd?s-Bacon number? This playful measure of a person's collaborative distance from the legendary mathematician Paul Erd?s and the beloved actor Kevin Bacon has intrigued mathematicians, scientists, and even actors for decades. The lowest possible Erd?s-Bacon number is just 2, and achieving this rare feat is a noteworthy accomplishment in both the academic and entertainment world.
Famous Individuals with Low Erd?s-Bacon Numbers
One of the most famous individuals with a low Erd?s-Bacon number is Vladimir Nabokov. Having an Erd?s-Bacon number of 2, Nabokov co-authored a mathematical paper with a collaborator who has an Erd?s number of 1. Additionally, he appeared in a documentary that involved Kevin Bacon. While this number may seem impressive, it is important to note that very few people have accomplished this combined Erd?s-Bacon number of 2. This makes it a rare and noteworthy achievement in both mathematics and acting.
Albert M. Chan: A Canadian Actor with an Erd?s-Bacon Number of 4
Among actors, Albert M. Chan, a Canadian actor with a PhD in Electrical Engineering, currently holds one of the lowest known Erd?s-Bacon numbers with a value of 4. His Erd?s number is 3, which means he is directly connected to Paul Erd?s through three steps. Let’s break it down: Chan co-authored a 2004 paper with Inkyu Lee and Carl-Eric Sundberg. Sundberg co-authored a 1990 paper with Joel H. Shapiro: “Isolation amongst the composition operators.” Shapiro co-authored a 1965 paper with A.L. Shields and Paul Erd?s: “Large and small subspaces of Hilbert space.”
His Bacon number is 1, as he appeared in Patriots’ Day (2016) alongside Kevin Bacon. Despite having a relatively high Bacon number, Chan claims to hold the lowest Erd?s-Bacon number of any actor, making him a unique figure in the world of both academia and acting.
Daniel Kleitman: An MIT Professor with an Erd?s-Bacon Number of 3
Professor Daniel Kleitman from MIT has an Erd?s-Bacon number of 3. His Erd?s number is 1, as he co-authored a 1971 paper with Paul Erd?s. This collaboration alone lands him in the prestigious company of those with an Erd?s number of 1. His Bacon number is 2, but it's somewhat dubious due to the circumstances. Kleitman served as a Mathematical Advisor to the film Good Will Hunting (1997), which was set at MIT. He had a cameo role in the film, and co-star Minnie Driver, who had previously appeared in Sleepers (1996) alongside Kevin Bacon. Thus, Kleitman’s combined Erd?s-Bacon number of 3 is notable but not as low as some might hope.
Currently, no one is believed to have a lower combined Erd?s-Bacon number than Daniel Kleitman, making him a curious and unique figure in the world of collaborative distance.
The Significance and Challenges of Achieving Low Erd?s-Bacon Numbers
The quest for the lowest Erd?s-Bacon number is significant because it represents a rare intersection of achievements in both academic and entertainment realms. Achieving a low number requires a series of carefully chosen collaborations that are both meaningful and well-documented. This phenomenon highlights the interconnectedness of different fields and the potential for serendipitous connections that span scientific discovery and cultural entertainment.
In addition to Vlad Nabokov and Albert M. Chan, other notable figures in the quest for low Erd?s-Bacon numbers include:
Marion Scheepers: An Erd?s number of 2 and a Bacon number of 2, giving him an Erd?s-Bacon number of 4. Timothy Gowers: An Erd?s number of 2 and a Bacon number of 3, giving him an Erd?s-Bacon number of 5.These individuals, representing a mix of mathematicians, scientists, and actors, continue to inspire others to seek this rare and intriguing measure of collaborative distance.