"First of all, there are problems that no one knows how to solve. There are problems that have been studied but untouched, or problems on which there is partial progress. There are problems that sound compelling when formulated, but which no one has thought of yet. There are concepts which are very useful in solving problems .. or which perhaps ... sound very natural and compelling when formulated, but have not been formulated yet. And all of these things interact. So, by solving problems, one is led to concepts — and, by thinking about concepts, one is led to problems."
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Mathematicians from the United StatesPrinceton University facultyPrinceton University alumniFields Medalists
Original Language: English
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(quote at 17:03 of 53:26 in video)
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Charles_Fefferman
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Charles Fefferman
(born April 18, 1949) is an American mathematician. At the 1978 he was awarded the for his contributions to mathematical analysis.
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