Perfect Six

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Perfect Six

     "…A unique number in six words…"

Product, Sum, Rhyme:

First three primes

…For the "6 Worded Pieces" contest (http://www.writerscafe.org/contests/6-Worded-Pieces/50947/)…

Notes: First three primes: 1, 2, 3. Product 1 x 2 x 3 = 6.  Sum 1 + 2 + 3 = 6, making it the first "perfect" number.

©2015 Richard Puetter

All Rights Reserved

Author's Note

Ah, quite a few looks. No reviews. Too esoteric, I fear. Sort of expected that. My science and math friends think it's pretty clever, though. And number theory fascinates me. Lots of amazing work on perfect numbers. Not many of them known--look up on Wikipedia, if interested. Lots known on even perfect numbers. Lots of restrictions known on odd perfect numbers, but none known as far as I'm aware. And it's not known if there are an infinite number of perfect numbers. Just fascinating to me.

Best regards to all of my readers.

Rick

Reviews

[KWP]

As a scientist this poem is very you :D

I'm interested in the spiritual you ... tell me

[Rick Puetter]

An interesting review. You comment that as a scientist this poem "is very you", but you go on to say that you're interested in the more spiritual part of me. I find this comment most interesting because I wonder why you think that mathematical number theory might not be the spiritual part of me that you're asking about, and I can completely assure you that this is completely and utterly a very spiritual part of me. It's always when I meet with such questions that I think back on a story that the noble laureate physicist Richard Feynman would often tell--he was a very interesting character that I've had the pleasure of meeting a number of times. He would start his story by saying “I have a friend who’s an artist, and has sometimes taken a view which I don’t agree with very well. He’ll hold up a flower and say “look how beautiful it is,” and I’ll agree. Then he says “I as an artist can see how beautiful this is, but you as a scientist take this all apart and it becomes a dull thing,” and I think that he’s kind of nutty. First of all, the beauty that he sees is available to other people, and to me too, I believe. Although I may not be quite as refined aesthetically as he is … I can appreciate the beauty of a flower. At the same time, I see much more about the flower than he sees. I could imagine the cells in there, the complicated actions inside, which also have a beauty. I mean it’s not just beauty at this dimension, at one centimetre; there’s also beauty at smaller dimensions, the inner structure, also the processes. The fact that the colours in the flower evolved in order to attract insects to pollinate it, is interesting; it means that insects can see the colour. It adds a question: does this aesthetic sense also exist in the lower forms? Why is it aesthetic? All kinds of interesting questions which the science knowledge only adds to the excitement, the mystery and the awe of a flower. It only adds. I don’t understand how it subtracts.” So with number theory I am enthralled with the great complexity of human thought that arises from just the simplest of numbers, the integers. There are an infinite number of them, but this is the smallest infinity. We know that there are an infinite number of different infinities, each being bigger than the next. For example the real numbers form a larger infinity and it can be very easily shown in a few lines on the back of an envelop that no matter how you try to align the integers one to one against the real numbers, you always run out of integers before you run out of real numbers. (I have a t-shirt with this proof on it.) And this is not true of the rational numbers, for example, which on the face of it seem to be a larger set than the integers, but they're not. There are the same number of integers as rational numbers and they can easily be put into a one-to-one alignment where they perfectly match. (I also have a t-shirt with this proof on it.) And then there are the perfect numbers like six, It is unknown if there are an infinite number of them, but only even perfect numbers are known. Why can't they be odd, or can they? Isn't this utterly amazing? Doesn't this give you a feeling of spiritual wonderment? It does for me. So this is the spiritual side of me and I believe it's more spiritual and has more wonderment than the spiritual wonderment felt by most people. I find that the things most people describe as spiritual are a bit dull and lifeless. Often they involve what people call "grand questions", which really can't be addressed and/or understood. But there are so many questions that can be addressed and the questions understood but are still a wonderment. And just why would I choose to think about unaddressable questions when there are so many addressable questions? And today these addressable questions even extend to how did the Universe arise, for example. You know, don't you that we know the answer to that question. We might also ask how long will the Universe last? And you know, don't you, that we know the answer to that question, too? Are these things spiritual enough for you? Well, I've been pondering such questions since boyhood, and I would say without question that this is the spiritual side of my life.

[KWP]

Well, there you go, I guess that's why I asked the question, to receive this answer - thank you. read moreWell, there you go, I guess that's why I asked the question, to receive this answer - thank you.

To put the question in perspective, I live in a house with science minded and math based males (not Dodger my Cocker, he prefers to get his daily dose of news when sniffing trees and poles) and when I speak with them about suff like, all of us are connected, we are all one, inherent wisdom and eastern philosophies, they pretty much raise their eyebrows in a 'oh, here she goes' kinda way. I have however always believed that as we are part of the universe, so too do we have the whole universe within us - makes perfect sense to me.

Then I think on inherent wisdoms - where did this 'just knowing' come from - we all have it - stuff we just know - has it been passed down through generations, or was it there all along.

Then I have to ask myself in reply to your above comment - why are we not addressing unaddressable questions?

I have read Richard Feynman, I found his writing to be welcoming and agreeable and he seems somewhat a uniquely accessible character.

TK is always trying to engage me in the true beauty of mathematics. People have told me the life s actually mathematics - but then that too is a human concept yes - taught through the generations - I have to wonder, if it wasn't mathematics chosen to unravel the universe - then what?

I meant not offence in the statement 'this is very you' not at all - I do however wonder when science and the universal truths will find a lovely resting place side by side.

Have you ever read 'The Mustard Seed' by OSHO ? I'd say you'd enjoy that - his articulation is impeccable, his mind, like yours reaches such depths with ease - but his trajectory, so different to yours and yet, I still see a meeting point.

Thanks for the reply comment.

You are not a fan of paragraphs are you ? :D

[Earthbound Angel]

I do find numbers fascinating. Six is also a very auspicious number in Feng Shui. It represents one of the one white stars.

[Miss Ithaca]

I appreciate your footnote to this piece. I think it was a very good choice because many will look over and onto the next piece. A big miss for them. I feel like this poem should introduce a chapter observing primes in a textbook.

[Devons]

That's a mouthful in a small bite. Perfectly circling back within and around itself. This is when numbers are at their coolest. I was especially drawn by the title. Surely far too clever to win any contests.

[Roland Petrov]

Very clever indeed! There's more to one two three than meets the eye.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i like the look of this...my dad never really appreciated my poetry...but he is a math guy...he would have loved this.

love cubed, in a figurative way.

[Rana]

Refreshing how you used a mathematical concept for something quite poetic. I saw it this way, the product of the first three primes and their sum, both are six. So, that's how they rhyme. Six rhymes with six.

[Great Aunt Astri]

Ah, very clever you! Your six words open up a gigantic space, once understood. Also, when spoken. the rhythm is also very clever! I enjoyed it.

[Fran Marie]

I'm not much for math other than doing those suduko puzzles now and then..but it seems you got the perfect six prime words down...like the dice photo btw..a perfect six write..