This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-32865248
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
'Beautiful Mind' mathematician John Nash killed in crash | 'Beautiful Mind' mathematician John Nash killed in crash |
(about 1 hour later) | |
US mathematician John Nash, who inspired the Oscar-winning film A Beautiful Mind, has died in a car crash with his wife, police have said. | US mathematician John Nash, who inspired the Oscar-winning film A Beautiful Mind, has died in a car crash with his wife, police have said. |
Nash, 86, and his 82-year-old wife Alicia were killed when their taxi crashed in New Jersey, they said. | Nash, 86, and his 82-year-old wife Alicia were killed when their taxi crashed in New Jersey, they said. |
The mathematician is renowned for his work in game theory, winning the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1994. | The mathematician is renowned for his work in game theory, winning the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1994. |
His breakthroughs in maths - and his struggles with schizophrenia - were the focus of the 2001 film. | His breakthroughs in maths - and his struggles with schizophrenia - were the focus of the 2001 film. |
Russell Crowe, who played him, tweeted: "Stunned... My heart goes out to John & Alicia & family. An amazing partnership. Beautiful minds, beautiful hearts." | |
The film's director, Ron Howard, also tweeted his tribute to the "brilliant" John Nash and his "remarkable" wife. | |
Alicia Nash helped care for her husband, and the two later became prominent mental health advocates. | Alicia Nash helped care for her husband, and the two later became prominent mental health advocates. |
The two were thrown from their vehicle, police said. Media reports said the couple may not have been wearing seatbelts when they crashed. | The two were thrown from their vehicle, police said. Media reports said the couple may not have been wearing seatbelts when they crashed. |
Their taxi driver, and a passenger in another car, were also injured. | Their taxi driver, and a passenger in another car, were also injured. |
'Genius' | |
Born in Bluefield, West Virginia, Nash first studied in Pittsburgh before moving to Princeton. | |
His recommendation letter contained just one line: "This man is a genius." Nash married Alicia Larde in 1957, after publishing some of his breakthrough works. | |
But he developed severe schizophrenia soon after, and Alicia had him committed for psychiatric care several times. The couple divorced in 1962. | |
"I was disturbed in this way for a very long period of time, like 25 years," Nash said in an interview on the Nobel website. | |
The two stayed close, and his condition had begun to improve by the 1980s. They remarried in 2001. | |
The President of Princeton, Christopher Eisgruber, said he was "stunned and saddened" to hear of their deaths. | |
"John's remarkable achievements inspired generations of mathematicians, economists and scientists who were influenced by his brilliant, groundbreaking work in game theory," he said. | |
Even this week, Nash received the Abel Prize, another top honour in the field of mathematics. | |
What is game theory? | What is game theory? |
If you have ever tried to haggle over a price, you may have unknowingly engaged in some of the logic employed in game theory. | If you have ever tried to haggle over a price, you may have unknowingly engaged in some of the logic employed in game theory. |
The subject can be described as the mathematical study of decision-making, conflict and strategy in social situations. | The subject can be described as the mathematical study of decision-making, conflict and strategy in social situations. |
The "game" is an attempt to model the decision-making process, those making the choices and what those outcomes might be. | The "game" is an attempt to model the decision-making process, those making the choices and what those outcomes might be. |
It has huge applications, with everything from dating sites to auctions of sports rights using its ideas. | It has huge applications, with everything from dating sites to auctions of sports rights using its ideas. |
The Nash Equilibrium, for which John Nash won his Nobel Prize, describes situations where it is of no benefit for players in a complex game to change strategy, when they consider others'. | |
The US and USSR could be said to have been in such a position in the Cold War, knowing each other's position but not starting a nuclear war. |