So I found this counterexample, and saw that my attempted disproof was false, along with my dreams of fame and glory.
Feels familiar—when I was younger, I proved the Poincaré conjecture, and Fermat’s last theorem (twice). I generally managed to slay my proofs by myself, though I felt not regret at being wrong, just frustration and anger at myself.
Even now, as a mathematical researcher, it’s very hard to give up a nice result that can’t be proved. But I manage. And I do feel that there is a silver lining: greater, more confident accuracy.
So I found this counterexample, and saw that my attempted disproof was false, along with my dreams of fame and glory.
Feels familiar—when I was younger, I proved the Poincaré conjecture, and Fermat’s last theorem (twice). I generally managed to slay my proofs by myself, though I felt not regret at being wrong, just frustration and anger at myself.
Even now, as a mathematical researcher, it’s very hard to give up a nice result that can’t be proved. But I manage. And I do feel that there is a silver lining: greater, more confident accuracy.