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Saying that the study of special values of L-functions is about generalizing things like the Leibniz formula for π makes it seem like it's about expressing transcendental numbers as infinite series, which I don't think it's about. It's true that you often need transcendental numbers in your formula, but you're just as happy without them. I think it would be better to say that it's about generalizing Euler's formula on the special values of the Riemann zeta function (and its relation to class numbers of cyclotomic fields) and Dirichlet's analytic class number formula, i.e. finding ways to extract the arithmetic information encoded in L-functions. Opinions? RobHar (talk) 19:21, 10 November 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Well, OK. It's not a _bad_ example, in the sense that it is a special case of the analytic class number formula. And it's a striking example. A Disappearing Number starts with the formula harmonic series = -1/12, which therefore has star quality. Consider what function it is performing in the article: to give someone with a little background where this topic fits in, or to satisfy purists who would prefer to start from ζ(2n) for high-flown reasons. This is Wikipedia, after all, and we are supposed to write for the "general reader", however often mathematicians disregard this advice. Charles Matthews (talk) 20:15, 10 November 2010 (UTC)[reply]
