The Pentagonal Number Theorem and All That

Introduction

When I was a sophomore, my advanced calculus midterm was given in Memorial Hall, Harvard’s grotesque memorial to students who died in the Civil War. 

The interior of the building is a room shaped like a cathedral, with a stained glass window at the front. But where the pews should be there are instead gigantic tables. College midterms are given in that room, with a table reserved for each class. Over there — philosophy, and there — German, and at our table — advanced calculus.

Click here.