Study …
Mathematics?
Lu Zhou paused for a second.
He went silent for a second before he coughed and spoke.
"Computational materials science is also a type of mathematics …"
"I don't want to study computational materials science." Han Mengqi shook her head stubbornly and said, "I just want to study mathematics."
She felt like she didn't express herself correctly, so she added another type.
"I mean, pure mathematics."
"Pure mathematics …"
When Lu Zhou heard this request, he suddenly felt like his head was about to explode.
Although, logically speaking, he didn't really want to comment on other people's ideals …
But …
Lu Zhou put down the pen in his hand and crossed his fingers on the desk. He looked at Han Mengqi seriously and spoke.
"Can you tell me why … You've been studying computational materials science for three years, why did you choose to switch to pure mathematics?"
Generally speaking, it was common to switch from pure mathematics to applied mathematics, but it was rare to switch from applied mathematics to pure mathematics.
If it was someone else, Han Mengqi would be fine. However, among all of his computational materials science students, Han Mengqi was the most talented one. She was also the student he was most satisfied with.
Even Jerick, who was studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, might not be as talented as her.
She had a bright future in computational materials science, but she had to switch to a new field. Lu Zhou would be lying if he said he didn't feel bad at all.
After all, Lu Zhou put a lot of effort into training her.
Han Mengqi looked at Lu Zhou and looked away. She hesitated for a second before she spoke in a complicated tone.
"I don't like chemistry at all … The reason why I chose chemistry was because I wanted to adjust my focus. Actually, I originally planned on changing my major to mathematics, but you did an undergraduate student training program at Jin Ling University. I happened to be one of the top students in my department, so I signed up for it … "
Perhaps she felt that this reason of hers was too childish, so she was too embarrassed to continue speaking towards the end of her sentence.
Adjust my focus?
Lu Zhou almost spat out a mouthful of blood.
Little sister … Oh no, little sister, you're about to graduate with a master's degree. Is it really appropriate for you to revisit the college entrance exam and choose a major?
"It's not a big deal, right? My mathematics major is also a transfer, "said Lu Zhou. He had a dumbfounded expression on his face as he said," It's not about the transfer, it's about whether it's suitable or not — "
"It's not about suitability." Han Mengqi shook her head. She looked at Lu Zhou seriously and said, "It's about liking it."
Looking at her serious expression, Lu Zhou was slightly taken aback.
Come to think of it, this was the first time she had refuted his point of view …
After a moment of silence, Lu Zhou recalled what he had said back then and finally sighed.
"… You're right, interest is the best teacher."
Apart from the system, he really liked researching mathematics problems and the feeling of being immersed in the world of mathematics. This was why he chose mathematics as his direction.
If his students really liked mathematics …
He didn't want to stop her.
Even though in his opinion, computational materials science was clearly more suitable for her than mathematics.
When Han Mengqi heard that Lu Zhou agreed with her, she suddenly smiled and spoke happily.
"Then —"
"I won't stop you." Lu Zhou looked at Han Mengqi and paused for a second. He then said, "But my PhD isn't that easy … Especially pure mathematics."
Han Mengqi pursed her lips and spoke firmly.
"It's okay … I'll work hard."
"… Some things can't be done with just hard work. Mathematics is a very talented subject, especially pure mathematics. There were many people engaged in this field of research, but there were very few who could truly produce results. Some people spend their entire life learning and summarizing the knowledge of their predecessors. It's far from being creative. "
Lu Zhou took out a piece of draft paper from the table and picked up a ballpoint pen. He thought for around ten seconds and wrote down a line of calculations on the paper.
[For any real number s > 1, define ζ (s) = Σ1/(m ^ s) …]
When Han Mengqi looked at this line of calculations, she wrinkled her nose.
"This is …?"
It seemed to be very simple.
Lu Zhou replied casually, "The Riemann zeta function."
He wrote down the last part of the problem.
[… Prove that ζ (2n) is a transcendental number.]
When Han Mengqi heard the word Riemann, she suddenly shivered and said, "You're giving me such a difficult assignment?"
"Don't be afraid of Riemann. You're living in the future 150 years after his death." Lu Zhou smiled and handed the super-tall piece of paper to Han Mengqi. He then said, "Also, this isn't an assignment, it's an exam."
"Exam?"
"Yes." Lu Zhou nodded and said, "If you can solve this problem, I'll allow you to study pure mathematics here."
At this point, he paused for two seconds and then added another sentence.
"Of course, if you change your mind and want to study computational materials, my office door is still open for you."
After all, Lu Zhou was quite satisfied with her thesis on topological crystal insulators. If this little girl was willing to give up and continue to study computational materials, he would welcome her.
Pure mathematics …
It wasn't that easy to learn.
Han Mengqi stared at the draft paper in her hand. She looked at the line of calculations and the problem of finding the transcendental number. She felt her scalp go numb.
She didn't even know how to solve the problem, she didn't even know the problem itself.
In the past, when she was researching computational materials science, the mathematical methods she used were mainly in the fields of functional analysis, geometry, and topology. She probably wouldn't have memorized analytic number theory even if she had heard it before …
However …
It wouldn't be like her to give up like this.
Han Mengqi clenched her teeth and raised her head. She stared at Lu Zhou and spoke.
"Don't expect me to give up … I'll start by collecting data."
"Of course not, I'm looking forward to your answer." Lu Zhou smiled and said, "However, you only have two months. I hope you can give me an answer before the end of the year."
"Hmph, why would I need two months? One month is enough."
Han Mengqi snorted and took the draft paper with her as she turned around and left.
The office door opened and closed. The office was quiet again. One could only hear the sound of the pen.
Lu Zhou sat in his office chair and pondered for a long time. He suddenly raised his head and looked at He Changwen, who was sitting at a table not far away from him. He was the pure mathematics PhD student that he was teaching right now.
"Changwen, if I asked you to prove that ζ (2n) is a transcendental number, how many ways can you think of?"
He Changwen stopped writing. After a moment of hesitation, he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose with the cap of the pen in the back of his hand and spoke.
"I … can probably think of one … No, two ways."
He hesitated for a moment before saying the last half of the sentence in a certain tone.
With his ability, this sentence should be the truth.
Lu Zhou nodded and spoke concisely.
"Two ways is not bad."
He Changwen hesitated for a second and said, "Is it too difficult for a master's student?"
Even though he didn't deliberately listen to the conversation between the professor and the master's student, he still heard some of it.
For a person who had never been exposed to pure mathematics in their undergraduate or master's level, challenging such a difficult problem was a bit too difficult.
This wasn't just a problem of lacking mathematical methods, it was also a test of pure mathematics thinking. And these things were not easy for a beginner to overcome, let alone a layman who had yet to even get started.
Lu Zhou smiled.
"When you're at the PhD level, you should learn to ask questions and find ways to solve problems.
"If she can think of a different solution, that would be for the best.
"If she can't think of a solution, it means she doesn't have the talent in this area. It's better to carefully reconsider her future path.
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