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The Erdős number () describes the "collaborative distance" between mathematician and another person, as measured by authorship of mathematical papers. The same principle has been applied in other fields where a particular individual has collaborated with a large and broad number of peers.
The Erdős number () describes the "collaborative distance" between mathematician and another person, as measured by authorship of mathematical papers. The same principle has been applied in other fields where a particular individual has collaborated with a large and broad number of peers.
'''<font color="#ff8000"> 埃尔德什数Erdős number</font>'''（匈牙利语：[ˈɛrdøːʃ]）描述了数学家保罗·埃尔德什Paul Erdős与其他作者之间的“协作距离”，这是根据数学论文的著作权来衡量的。该原则应用于很多其他领域，意指特定某个人与众多同行之间的合作关系。
'''<font color="#ff8000"> 埃尔德什数Erdős number</font>'''（匈牙利语：[ˈɛrdøːʃ]）根据数学论文的著作权来来对数学家保罗·埃尔德什与其他作者之间的“协作距离”进行描述。同样的原则也应用于很多当特定某个人与众多同行之间保持合作关系的其他领域。
== Overview 概况==
== Overview 概况==
Paul Erdős (1913–1996) was an influential Hungarian mathematician who in the latter part of his life spent a great deal of time writing papers with a large number of colleagues, working on solutions to outstanding mathematical problems. He published more papers during his lifetime (at least 1,525) than any other mathematician in history. Erdős spent a large portion of his later life living out of a suitcase, visiting his over 500 collaborators around the world.
Paul Erdős (1913–1996) was an influential Hungarian mathematician who in the latter part of his life spent a great deal of time writing papers with a large number of colleagues, working on solutions to outstanding mathematical problems. He published more papers during his lifetime (at least 1,525) than any other mathematician in history. Erdős spent a large portion of his later life living out of a suitcase, visiting his over 500 collaborators around the world.
保罗·埃尔德什Paul Erdős(1913年至1996年）是一位在业界产生很大影响力的匈牙利数学家，他一生中大量的时间都在与很多同事合作撰写论文，致力于解决困扰已久的疑难数学问题。他所发表的论文（至少1,525件）比历史上其他任何数学家都多。莱昂哈德·欧拉Leonhard Euler发表过更多的数学论文，但单独的论文却较少：大约800篇。而埃尔德什的大部分时间都生活在手提箱里，他拜访过全球500多个合作者。
保罗·埃尔德什Paul Erdős(1913年至1996年）是一位在业界产生有影响力的匈牙利数学家，其一生中大量的时间都在与很多同事合作撰写论文，致力于解决困扰已久的疑难数学问题。他一生中所发表的论文（至少1,525篇）比历史上其他任何数学家都多。莱昂哈德·欧拉Leonhard Euler发表过的数学论文页数更多，但单独的论文却较少（大约800篇）。而埃尔德什的大部分时间都在旅居中，其拜访过全球500多个合作者。
The idea of the Erdős number was originally created by the mathematician's friends as a tribute to his enormous output. Later it gained prominence as a tool to study how mathematicians cooperate to find answers to unsolved problems. Several projects are devoted to studying connectivity among researchers, using the Erdős number as a proxy. For example, Erdős collaboration graphs can tell us how authors cluster, how the number of co-authors per paper evolves over time, or how new theories propagate.
The idea of the Erdős number was originally created by the mathematician's friends as a tribute to his enormous output. Later it gained prominence as a tool to study how mathematicians cooperate to find answers to unsolved problems. Several projects are devoted to studying connectivity among researchers, using the Erdős number as a proxy. For example, Erdős collaboration graphs can tell us how authors cluster, how the number of co-authors per paper evolves over time, or how new theories propagate.
埃尔德什数的概念最初是由埃尔德什的朋友们提出来的，以赞扬保罗·埃尔德什的巨大成就。后来，它演变为研究数学家如何通过合作来解决问题的的工具而受到重视。有几个项目致力于使用埃尔德什数为代表方法来研究人员之间的连通性。例如，埃尔德什合作图可以告诉我们作者是如何聚集在一起的，每篇论文的共同作者数量随时间变化或新理论的产生如何传播的。
Several studies have shown that leading mathematicians tend to have particularly low Erdős numbers. The median Erdős number of Fields Medalists is 3. Only 7,097 (about 5% of mathematicians with a collaboration path) have an Erdős number of 2 or lower. As time passes, the smallest Erdős number that can still be achieved will necessarily increase, as mathematicians with low Erdős numbers die and become unavailable for collaboration. Still, historical figures can have low Erdős numbers. For example, renowned Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan has an Erdős number of only 3 (through G. H. Hardy, Erdős number 2), even though Paul Erdős was only 7 years old when Ramanujan died.
Several studies have shown that leading mathematicians tend to have particularly low Erdős numbers. The median Erdős number of Fields Medalists is 3. Only 7,097 (about 5% of mathematicians with a collaboration path) have an Erdős number of 2 or lower. As time passes, the smallest Erdős number that can still be achieved will necessarily increase, as mathematicians with low Erdős numbers die and become unavailable for collaboration. Still, historical figures can have low Erdős numbers. For example, renowned Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan has an Erdős number of only 3 (through G. H. Hardy, Erdős number 2), even though Paul Erdős was only 7 years old when Ramanujan died.
多项研究表明，领先的数学家往往具有极低的埃尔德什数。费尔兹奖得主Fields Medalists的埃尔德什中位数是3。只有7,097名（拥有合作经历的数学家中约5％）的埃尔德什数为2或更低。随着时间的流逝，低埃尔德什数的数学家因死亡而无法进行协作，所能达到的最小埃尔德什数必然会增加。历史人物仍可能一直具有较低的埃尔德什数。例如，印度著名数学家Srinivasa Ramanujan的埃尔德什数仅为3（通过与G. H. Hardy合作，其埃尔德什数为2），尽管Ramanujan去世时保罗·埃尔德什只有7岁。
== Definition and application in mathematics 数学的定义与应用 ==
== Definition and application in mathematics 数学的定义与应用 ==
To be assigned an Erdős number, someone must be a coauthor of a research paper with another person who has a finite Erdős number. Paul Erdős has an Erdős number of zero. Anybody else's Erdős number is where is the lowest Erdős number of any coauthor. The American Mathematical Society provides a free online tool to determine the Erdős number of every mathematical author listed in the Mathematical Reviews catalogue.
To be assigned an Erdős number, someone must be a coauthor of a research paper with another person who has a finite Erdős number. Paul Erdős has an Erdős number of zero. Anybody else's Erdős number is where is the lowest Erdős number of any coauthor. The American Mathematical Society provides a free online tool to determine the Erdős number of every mathematical author listed in the Mathematical Reviews catalogue.
要分配一个埃尔德什数，某人必须与另一个具有有限埃尔德什数的人共同撰写研究论文。保罗·埃尔德什的埃尔德什数为零。其他人的埃尔德什数为''k+1''，其中''k''是任何合著者中最低的埃尔德什数。美国数学学会提供免费的在线工具，可确定《数学评论》目录中列出的每个数学作者的埃尔德什数。
要分配一个埃尔德什数，某人必须与另一个具有有限埃尔德什数的人共同撰写研究论文。保罗·埃尔德什的埃尔德什数为零。其他人的埃尔德什数为''k+1''，其中''k''是任何合著者中最低的埃尔德什数。美国数学学会提供免费的在线工具来确定《数学评论》目录中列出的每个数学作者的埃尔德什数。
... Our criterion for inclusion of an edge between vertices u and v is some research collaboration between them resulting in a published work. Any number of additional co-authors is permitted,...
... Our criterion for inclusion of an edge between vertices u and v is some research collaboration between them resulting in a published work. Any number of additional co-authors is permitted,...
...我们在顶点u和v之间共有的包含边标准是，它们之间的某些研究合作导致了发表的作品。允许任何数量的其他共同作者，...
...我们在顶点u和v之间共有的包含边标准是，它们之间的某些研究合作导致了发表的作品。任何数量的其他共同作者都是被允许的，...
The Erdős number was most likely first defined in print by Casper Goffman, an analyst whose own Erdős number is 2. Goffman published his observations about Erdős' prolific collaboration in a 1969 article entitled "''And what is your Erdős number?''" See also some comments in an obituary by Michael Golomb.
The Erdős number was most likely first defined in print by Casper Goffman, an analyst whose own Erdős number is 2. Goffman published his observations about Erdős' prolific collaboration in a 1969 article entitled "''And what is your Erdős number?''" See also some comments in an obituary by Michael Golomb.
埃尔德什数很可能最早由卡斯珀·高夫曼Casper Goffman定义，他自己的埃尔德什数为2。高夫曼在1969年发表的一篇文章中表示了他对埃尔德什多产合作的看法，“您的埃尔德什数是多少？”另请参阅迈克尔·哥伦布Michael Golomb在讣告中的一些评论。
埃尔德什数很可能最早由卡斯珀·高夫曼Casper Goffman定义，他自己的埃尔德什数为2。高夫曼在1969年发表的一篇文章“您的埃尔德什数是多少”中表示了他对埃尔德什多产合作的看法，另请参阅迈克尔·哥伦布Michael Golomb在讣告中的一些评论。
{{As of|2016}}, all [[Fields Medal]]ists have a finite Erdős number, with values that range between 2 and 6, and a median of 3. In contrast, the median Erdős number across all mathematicians (with a finite Erdős number) is 5, with an extreme value of 13. The table below summarizes the Erdős number statistics for [[Nobel Prize|Nobel prize]] laureates in Physics, Chemistry, Medicine and Economics. The first column counts the number of laureates. The second column counts the number of winners with a finite Erdős number. The third column is the percentage of winners with a finite Erdős number. The remaining columns report the minimum, maximum, average and median Erdős numbers among those laureates.
{{As of|2016}}, all [[Fields Medal]]ists have a finite Erdős number, with values that range between 2 and 6, and a median of 3. In contrast, the median Erdős number across all mathematicians (with a finite Erdős number) is 5, with an extreme value of 13. The table below summarizes the Erdős number statistics for [[Nobel Prize|Nobel prize]] laureates in Physics, Chemistry, Medicine and Economics. The first column counts the number of laureates. The second column counts the number of winners with a finite Erdős number. The third column is the percentage of winners with a finite Erdős number. The remaining columns report the minimum, maximum, average and median Erdős numbers among those laureates.
, all Fields Medalists have a finite Erdős number, with values that range between 2 and 6, and a median of 3. In contrast, the median Erdős number across all mathematicians (with a finite Erdős number) is 5, with an extreme value of 13. The table below summarizes the Erdős number statistics for Nobel prize laureates in Physics, Chemistry, Medicine and Economics. The first column counts the number of laureates. The second column counts the number of winners with a finite Erdős number. The third column is the percentage of winners with a finite Erdős number. The remaining columns report the minimum, maximum, average and median Erdős numbers among those laureates.
As of 2016, all Fields Medalists have a finite Erdős number, with values that range between 2 and 6, and a median of 3. In contrast, the median Erdős number across all mathematicians (with a finite Erdős number) is 5, with an extreme value of 13. The table below summarizes the Erdős number statistics for Nobel prize laureates in Physics, Chemistry, Medicine and Economics. The first column counts the number of laureates. The second column counts the number of winners with a finite Erdős number. The third column is the percentage of winners with a finite Erdős number. The remaining columns report the minimum, maximum, average and median Erdős numbers among those laureates.
截至2016年，所有费尔兹奖章获得者都有一个有限的埃尔德什数，其值在2到6之间，中位数为3。相反，所有数学家的埃尔德什数的中位数（有限的埃尔德什数）为5，极限值为13。下表总结了物理，化学，医学和经济学方面的诺贝尔奖得主的埃尔德什数统计。第一列计算获奖人数。第二列计算的是具有有限埃尔德什数的获胜者数量。第三列是具有有限埃尔德什数的获胜者的百分比。其余各列表示了这些获奖者中埃尔德什数的最小，最大，平均和中位数。
Nobel Prize laureates in Economics with an Erdős number of 3 include Kenneth J. Arrow (1972), Milton Friedman (1976), Herbert A. Simon (1978), Gerard Debreu (1983), John Forbes Nash, Jr. (1994), James Mirrlees (1996), Daniel McFadden (1996), Daniel Kahneman (2002), Robert J. Aumann (2005), Leonid Hurwicz (2007), Roger Myerson (2007), Alvin E. Roth (2012), and Lloyd S. Shapley (2012) and Jean Tirole (2014).
Nobel Prize laureates in Economics with an Erdős number of 3 include Kenneth J. Arrow (1972), Milton Friedman (1976), Herbert A. Simon (1978), Gerard Debreu (1983), John Forbes Nash, Jr. (1994), James Mirrlees (1996), Daniel McFadden (1996), Daniel Kahneman (2002), Robert J. Aumann (2005), Leonid Hurwicz (2007), Roger Myerson (2007), Alvin E. Roth (2012), and Lloyd S. Shapley (2012) and Jean Tirole (2014).
埃尔德什数为3的诺贝尔经济学奖得主，其中包括Kenneth J. Arrow（1972），Milton Friedman（1976），Herbert A. Simon（1978），Gerard Debreu（1983），John Forbes Nash，Jr.（1994），James Mirrlees（1996），Daniel McFadden（2000），Daniel Kahneman（2002），Robert J.Aumann（2005），Leonid Hurwicz（2007），Roger Myerson（2007），Alvin E.Roth（2012）和Lloyd S. Shapley（2012）和Jean Tirole（2014）。
Judge Richard Posner, having coauthored with Alvin E. Roth, has an Erdős number of at most 4. Roberto Mangabeira Unger, a politician, philosopher and legal theorist who teaches at Harvard Law School, has an Erdős number of at most 4, having coauthored with Lee Smolin.
Judge Richard Posner, having coauthored with Alvin E. Roth, has an Erdős number of at most 4. Roberto Mangabeira Unger, a politician, philosopher and legal theorist who teaches at Harvard Law School, has an Erdős number of at most 4, having coauthored with Lee Smolin.
与Alvin E. Roth合作的法官Richard Posner的埃尔德什数最多为4。政治家，哲学家和法律理论家Roberto Mangabeira Unger与Lee Smolin曾经合作过，其埃尔德什数最多为4。
与Alvin E. Roth合作的法官Richard Posner的埃尔德什数最多为4。在哈佛法学院任教的政治家，哲学家和法律理论家Roberto Mangabeira Unger与Lee Smolin曾经合作过，其埃尔德什数最多为4。
Erdős numbers have been a part of the [[folklore]] of mathematicians throughout the world for many years. Among all working mathematicians at the turn of the millennium who have a finite Erdős number, the numbers range up to 15, the median is 5, and the mean is 4.65; almost everyone with a finite Erdős number has a number less than 8. Due to the very high frequency of interdisciplinary collaboration in science today, very large numbers of non-mathematicians in many other fields of science also have finite Erdős numbers. For example, political scientist [[Steven Brams]] has an Erdős number of 2. In biomedical research, it is common for statisticians to be among the authors of publications, and many statisticians can be linked to Erdős via [[John Tukey]], who has an Erdős number of 2. Similarly, the prominent geneticist [[Eric Lander]] and the mathematician [[Daniel Kleitman]] have collaborated on papers, and since Kleitman has an Erdős number of 1, a large fraction of the genetics and genomics community can be linked via Lander and his numerous collaborators. Similarly, collaboration with Gustavus Simmons opened the door for [[List of people by Erdős number|Erdős numbers]] within the [[cryptographic]] research community, and many [[linguistics|linguists]] have finite Erdős numbers, many due to chains of collaboration with such notable scholars as [[Noam Chomsky]] (Erdős number 4), [[William Labov]] (3), [[Mark Liberman]] (3), [[Geoffrey Pullum]] (3), or [[Ivan Sag]] (4). There are also connections with [[arts]] fields.
Erdős numbers have been a part of the [[folklore]] of mathematicians throughout the world for many years. Among all working mathematicians at the turn of the millennium who have a finite Erdős number, the numbers range up to 15, the median is 5, and the mean is 4.65; almost everyone with a finite Erdős number has a number less than 8. Due to the very high frequency of interdisciplinary collaboration in science today, very large numbers of non-mathematicians in many other fields of science also have finite Erdős numbers. For example, political scientist [[Steven Brams]] has an Erdős number of 2. In biomedical research, it is common for statisticians to be among the authors of publications, and many statisticians can be linked to Erdős via [[John Tukey]], who has an Erdős number of 2. Similarly, the prominent geneticist [[Eric Lander]] and the mathematician [[Daniel Kleitman]] have collaborated on papers, and since Kleitman has an Erdős number of 1, a large fraction of the genetics and genomics community can be linked via Lander and his numerous collaborators. Similarly, collaboration with Gustavus Simmons opened the door for [[List of people by Erdős number|Erdős numbers]] within the [[cryptographic]] research community, and many [[linguistics|linguists]] have finite Erdős numbers, many due to chains of collaboration with such notable scholars as [[Noam Chomsky]] (Erdős number 4), [[William Labov]] (3), [[Mark Liberman]] (3), [[Geoffrey Pullum]] (3), or [[Ivan Sag]] (4). There are also connections with [[arts]] fields.
Erdős numbers have been a part of the folklore of mathematicians throughout the world for many years. Among all working mathematicians at the turn of the millennium who have a finite Erdős number, the numbers range up to 15, the median is 5, and the mean is 4.65; For example, political scientist Steven Brams has an Erdős number of 2. In biomedical research, it is common for statisticians to be among the authors of publications, and many statisticians can be linked to Erdős via John Tukey, who has an Erdős number of 2. Similarly, the prominent geneticist Eric Lander and the mathematician Daniel Kleitman have collaborated on papers, and since Kleitman has an Erdős number of 1, a large fraction of the genetics and genomics community can be linked via Lander and his numerous collaborators. Similarly, collaboration with [[Gustavus Simmons]] opened the door for Erdős numbers within the cryptographic research community, and many linguists have finite Erdős numbers, many due to chains of collaboration with such notable scholars as Noam Chomsky (Erdős number 4), William Labov (3), Mark Liberman (3), Geoffrey Pullum (3), or Ivan Sag (4). There are also connections with arts fields.
Erdős numbers have been a part of the folklore of mathematicians throughout the world for many years. Among all working mathematicians at the turn of the millennium who have a finite Erdős number, the numbers range up to 15, the median is 5, and the mean is 4.65; almost everyone with a finite Erdős number has a number less than 8. For example, political scientist Steven Brams has an Erdős number of 2. In biomedical research, it is common for statisticians to be among the authors of publications, and many statisticians can be linked to Erdős via John Tukey, who has an Erdős number of 2. Similarly, the prominent geneticist Eric Lander and the mathematician Daniel Kleitman have collaborated on papers, and since Kleitman has an Erdős number of 1, a large fraction of the genetics and genomics community can be linked via Lander and his numerous collaborators. Similarly, collaboration with [[Gustavus Simmons]] opened the door for Erdős numbers within the cryptographic research community, and many linguists have finite Erdős numbers, many due to chains of collaboration with such notable scholars as Noam Chomsky (Erdős number 4), William Labov (3), Mark Liberman (3), Geoffrey Pullum (3), or Ivan Sag (4). There are also connections with arts fields.
多年以来，埃尔德什数在数学家之间一直盛行。在千年之交的所有在职数学家中，都伴随着一个有限埃尔德什数，数字范围最大为15，中位数为5，平均值为4.65。几乎每个具有有限埃尔德什数的人其数字都小于8。由于当今科学领域跨学科合作的频率很高，因此许多其他科学领域的大量非数学家也具有有限的埃尔德什数。例如，政治学家Steven Brams的埃尔德什数为2。在生物医学研究中，统计学家通常是出版物的作者，许多统计学家可以通过John Tukey（其埃尔德什数为2）与埃尔德什链接。同样，著名的遗传学家Eric Lander和数学家Daniel Kleitman在论文上进行了合作，由于Kleitman的埃尔德什数为1，因此可以通过Lander及其众多合作者将遗传学和基因组学领域的大部分联系起来。另外，与Gustavus Simmons的合作为密码研究界内的埃尔德什数打开了大门，许多语言学家拥有有限的埃尔德什数，这许多是由于与Noam Chomsky（埃尔德什数为4），William Labov（埃尔德什数为3）等著名学者的合作产生，类似有Mark Liberman（3），Geoffrey Pullum（3）或Ivan Sag（4）。同时与艺术领域也有联系。
多年以来，埃尔德什数在数学家之间一直盛行。在千年之交的所有在职数学家中，都伴随着一个有限埃尔德什数，数字范围最大为15，中位数为5，平均值为4.65。几乎每个具有有限埃尔德什数的人其数字都小于8。由于当今科学领域跨学科合作的频率很高，因此许多其他科学领域的大量非数学家也具有有限的埃尔德什数。例如，政治学家Steven Brams的埃尔德什数为2。在生物医学研究中，统计学家通常是出版物的作者，许多统计学家可以通过John Tukey（其埃尔德什数为2）与埃尔德什链接。同样，著名的遗传学家Eric Lander和数学家Daniel Kleitman在论文上进行了合作，由于Kleitman的埃尔德什数为1，因此可以通过Lander及其众多合作者将遗传学和基因组学领域的大部分联系起来。另外，与Gustavus Simmons的合作为密码研究界内的埃尔德什数打开了大门，许多语言学家拥有有限的埃尔德什数，这许多是由于与Noam Chomsky（埃尔德什数为4），William Labov（埃尔德什数为3）等著名学者的合作产生，类似有Mark Liberman（3），Geoffrey Pullum（3）或Ivan Sag（4）。同时与艺术领域也有联系。
Also, Michael Barr suggests "rational Erdős numbers", generalizing the idea that a person who has written p joint papers with Erdős should be assigned Erdős number 1/p. From the collaboration multigraph of the second kind (although he also has a way to deal with the case of the first kind)—with one edge between two mathematicians for each joint paper they have produced—form an electrical network with a one-ohm resistor on each edge. The total resistance between two nodes tells how "close" these two nodes are.
Also, Michael Barr suggests "rational Erdős numbers", generalizing the idea that a person who has written p joint papers with Erdős should be assigned Erdős number 1/p. From the collaboration multigraph of the second kind (although he also has a way to deal with the case of the first kind)—with one edge between two mathematicians for each joint paper they have produced—form an electrical network with a one-ohm resistor on each edge. The total resistance between two nodes tells how "close" these two nodes are.
另外，迈克尔·巴尔Michael Barr曾建议使用“合理的埃尔德什数”，通俗的说就是与埃尔德共同撰写过''p''篇论文的人应被分配埃尔德什数的''1/p''。根据第二种的协作多重图（尽管他也有办法处理第一种情况），即在他们所合著的每篇联合论文中，两个数学家之间都有一条边，这个边缘上都有一个1欧姆电阻器的电网。两个节点之间的总电阻表明这两个节点有多“相近”。
另外，迈克尔·巴尔Michael Barr曾建议使用“合理的埃尔德什数”，通俗的说就是与埃尔德共同撰写过''p''篇论文的人应被分配埃尔德什数的''1/p''。根据第二种的协作多重图（尽管他也有办法处理第一种情况），即在他们所合著的每篇联合论文中，两个数学家之间都有一条边，我们可以将其视为这个网络视每一条边上都有一个1欧姆电阻器的电网。两个节点之间的总电阻表明这两个节点有多“相近”。
It has been argued that "for an individual researcher, a measure such as Erdős number captures the structural properties of [the] network whereas the h-index captures the citation impact of the publications," and that "One can be easily convinced that ranking in coauthorship networks should take into account both measures to generate a realistic and acceptable ranking."
It has been argued that "for an individual researcher, a measure such as Erdős number captures the structural properties of [the] network whereas the h-index captures the citation impact of the publications," and that "One can be easily convinced that ranking in coauthorship networks should take into account both measures to generate a realistic and acceptable ranking."
有人提出：“对于独立研究人员而言，诸如埃尔德什数之类的量度可以捕获网络的结构特性，而''h''指数则可以捕获出版物的引文影响。” 并且“可以很容易地使人相信，共同作者网络中的排名应该同时考虑到两种方法，以产生现实且可接受的排名。”
In 2004 William Tozier, a mathematician with an Erdős number of 4, auctioned off a co-authorship on eBay, hence providing the buyer with an Erdős number of 5. The winning bid of $1031 was posted by a Spanish mathematician, who however did not intend to pay but just placed the bid to stop what he considered a mockery.
In 2004 William Tozier, a mathematician with an Erdős number of 4, auctioned off a co-authorship on eBay, hence providing the buyer with an Erdős number of 5. The winning bid of $1031 was posted by a Spanish mathematician, who however did not intend to pay but just placed the bid to stop what he considered a mockery.
2004年，数学家埃尔德什数为4的William Tozier在eBay上拍卖了合著者，因此为买家提供了埃尔德什数为5的机会。一位西班牙数学家发布了1031美元的中标价格，不过他并不打算付款，而只是提出了中标要求，以阻止他认为是嘲弄的行为。
2004年，数学家埃尔德什数为4的William Tozier在eBay上拍卖了合著者，因此为买家提供了埃尔德什数为5的机会。一位西班牙数学家发布了1031美元的中标价格。不过他并不打算付款，而只是进行出价以阻止他认为是嘲弄的行为。