US-French duo share 'Mathematics Nobel'

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2008

OSLO (AFP) — The world's leading mathematics award, the Abel Prize, was awarded Thursday to Jacques Tits of France and John Griggs Thompson of the United States for their pioneer work on algebra.

The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters said Tits, 77, and Griggs Thompson, 75, had been given the so-called "Mathematics Nobel" because of their "profound achievements in algebra and in particular for shaping modern group theory."

Their theories can be used to explain problems such as the Rubik's Cube puzzle.

"The achievements of John Thompson and of Jacques Tits are of extraordinary depth and influence. They complement each other and together form the backbone of modern group theory."

Tits is an expert at the College de France in Paris and Griggs...