Show HN: I made a puzzle game that gently introduces my favorite math mysteries (rahulilango.com)

Article summary

The article presents a puzzle game that introduces math mysteries, including a demonstration of zero-knowledge proofs. The game is designed to be interactive and easy to understand. The discussion in the comments focuses on the game's content and the terminology used, with some commenters pointing out errors and suggesting improvements. The game's creator engages with the commenters, addressing their concerns and implementing changes.

Main themes

• Math puzzles
• Zero-knowledge proofs
• Geographical terminology
• Colonial implications
• Mathematical proof verification
• Computer-assisted proofs

What commenters say

• The term 'British Isles' is not an appropriate term to use due to its colonial implications and potential to offend people from Ireland.
• The use of 'believe' to describe mathematical proofs is misleading, as proofs are either correct or incorrect, with no middle ground.
• Computer-assisted proofs, such as those using Coq, are not qualitatively different from other computerized proofs that rely on enumerating many cases.
• A proof is not just a repeatable argument, but also requires verification and acceptance by others, which can be a social process.
• The distinction between 'Britain and Ireland' and 'British Isles' is not trivial and has significant historical and cultural implications.
• The creator of the game should prioritize clarity and accuracy in their explanations, including avoiding ambiguous terms and providing clear definitions.
• The game's demonstration of zero-knowledge proofs is effective in making the concept accessible to a wider audience.
• The use of formal verification tools, such as Coq, can increase confidence in the correctness of mathematical proofs, but may not be universally accepted as a substitute for human understanding.