# I determined my Bacon and Erdös numbers **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 29, 2021, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-determined-my-bacon-and-erdos-numbers/956843 "2021-12-29T08:59:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-determined-my-bacon-and-erdos-numbers/956843/41 "2022-01-03T18:33:45Z")
Some people require for the path for Erdös numbers that each link be a paper published in a refereed mathematical journal, while other only require that it be any academic journal. If you have no path to Bacon or Erdös, your number is not zero. Only Bacon and Erdös have numbers of zero. Your number is infinity or you have no number. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-determined-my-bacon-and-erdos-numbers/956843/42 "2022-01-03T19:51:24Z")
I was given an award at a ceremony by Penn Jillette, so **my Bacon number is 3** ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-determined-my-bacon-and-erdos-numbers/956843/43 "2022-01-03T20:41:28Z")
My father had a Bacon number of 3. He appeared as an extra with Alan Alda in _Sweet Liberty_ (in a freeze frame right next to him). I was in home movies with my mother (also an extra in the film) and him, so my Bacon number is 4. I doubt I have an Erdos number. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-determined-my-bacon-and-erdos-numbers/956843/44 "2022-01-03T21:12:00Z")
There is a youtube video that shows the back of my head at a concert. On the stage was… never mind. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-determined-my-bacon-and-erdos-numbers/956843/45 "2022-01-03T21:52:18Z")
I’ve never been in movie, but if you count TV, then I have a Bacon number of 3 (through the History Channel series _Clash of the Gods_). If you count stage appearances, I have a Bacon number of 4 (through Erland van Lidthe de Jeude). I determined my Erdos number several years ago, but can’t recall it. It’s fairly low, about 5 or so, and I can trace it through two paths. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-determined-my-bacon-and-erdos-numbers/956843/46 "2022-01-03T22:45:22Z")
So close! I was invited to a play once by Joe Flaherty, and met him backstage after. That would give me a Bacon number no larger than three (Flaherty was in 1941 with John Belushi, who was in Animal House with Kevin Bacon). I have never published in any sort of math journal, but I have co-authored an engineering book and written some mathematical articles about gambling in a national magazine and had a couple of relatively famous Mathematician/gamblers review them before publication. I didn’t bother to check their Erdos numbers, because this really doesn’t count. Does performing Black Sabbath at Karaoke or in a band count for a Sabbath number? ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2022, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-determined-my-bacon-and-erdos-numbers/956843/47 "2022-01-04T03:02:57Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > I was invited to a play once by Joe Flaherty, and met him backstage after. That would give me a Bacon number no larger than three I believe you have to be in a public performance with someone bacon adjacent to receive a bacon number, not just meet a bacon inductee. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2022, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-determined-my-bacon-and-erdos-numbers/956843/48 "2022-01-04T15:34:34Z")
I just checked, and was pleasantly surprised to find that my Erdos number is 5, If I had taken the time to publish my Disseration I could have got it down to 3 (my former advisor has a two) but I got too busy working for the feds. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-determined-my-bacon-and-erdos-numbers/956843/49 "2022-01-05T01:16:01Z")
You never published anything with your advisor? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-determined-my-bacon-and-erdos-numbers/956843/50 "2022-01-05T05:34:34Z")
1. I was in a play with Amber Todd. 2. Amber was in _Son Of The Mask_ with Jamie Kennedy. 3. Jamie was in _Scream 3_ with Neve Campbell. 4. Neve was in _Wild Things_ with Kevin Bacon. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-determined-my-bacon-and-erdos-numbers/956843/51 "2022-01-05T05:50:41Z")
As a background extra, I was in a scene with Kevin Costner, who was in the movie _JFK_, with Kevin Bacon. That gives me a Bacon number of 2. I have no Erdos number. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-determined-my-bacon-and-erdos-numbers/956843/52 "2022-01-05T07:22:42Z")
Here’s a website that allows you to calculate the number of links between many actors: > **[The Oracle of Bacon](https://oracleofbacon.org/)** > > Kevin Bacon numbers, link any actor to any other, the Center of the Hollywood Universe, and more ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-determined-my-bacon-and-erdos-numbers/956843/53 "2022-01-05T19:41:34Z")
I was once in a band who supported [Mari Wilson](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQBZU0d9Gs8) at a gig. One of her backing singers has a KB number of 3. Does that count ? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-determined-my-bacon-and-erdos-numbers/956843/54 "2022-01-05T21:09:52Z")
There’s doesn’t appear to be a formal, written definition of Bacon number, but the consensus appears to be an acting credit is required. This would eliminate plays, video tapes of non-theatrical events, being an extra, or other non-credited activities. It might break down for non-credited performances in theatrical releases. The Bacon number calculator also doesn’t include made for TV movies, but with streaming releases that’s going to be harder to justify. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2022, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-determined-my-bacon-and-erdos-numbers/956843/55 "2022-01-06T00:31:05Z")
My particular acting credit is as part of an ensemble - that is, the ensemble name is credited rather than each of us individually. And I am quite visible and audible on screen at various points. Does that count? ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2022, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-determined-my-bacon-and-erdos-numbers/956843/56 "2022-01-06T17:30:57Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > You never published anything with your advisor? In math you don’t usually. I never published anything with my advisor and no student of mine has ever published anything with me. Their work was theirs. Incidentally, Erdos had only 4 students. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2022, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-determined-my-bacon-and-erdos-numbers/956843/57 "2022-01-06T21:02:28Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Incidentally, Erdos had only 4 students. That’s actually not surprising, for the same reason that he had so many collaborators: He was a nomadic mathematician, who never stayed in any place for long. Good for networking with lots of people, not so good for advising a student. ---
**Author:** ![billy-jack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@billy-jack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billy-jack)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2022, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-determined-my-bacon-and-erdos-numbers/956843/58 "2022-01-06T21:17:41Z")
For one semester when I was a grad student in the 70s, I was a teaching assistant for a prof with an Erdos number of 1. I thought that prof was a real p.o.s. and never collaborated on anything with him. Later events showed my opinion to be quite accurate. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2022, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-determined-my-bacon-and-erdos-numbers/956843/59 "2022-01-06T21:19:13Z")
Except for a short time at the beginning of his career, Erdös didn’t teach at a university. He just moved from campus to campus. He was paid to give lectures at each campus and was given a place to stay, food to eat, his laundry done, etc. He was constantly suggesting new mathematical hypotheses, asking other mathematicians to help him prove them, and sometimes offering a prize for a proof. He published 1,525 mathematical papers with a total of 511 other mathematicians during his lifetime. At some point someone suggested that it was possible to define a number called the Erdös number which gave the minimal number of mathematical papers that connected someone with Erdös. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2022, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-determined-my-bacon-and-erdos-numbers/956843/60 "2022-01-06T21:26:32Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > He was a nomadic mathematician, who never stayed in any place for long. Actually, he did spend an entire semester in Urbana, IL, in the spring of 1966, accompanied by his mother. They stayed in guest rooms at the student union. That was when he met my 4 month old daughter and asked my wife if that was a boss epsilon (i.e. female) or a slave epsilon. Many of use would gather for coffee at the union around 3 every afternoon and Mrs. Erdos would occasionally join us. One day, she started by asking us if we knew her son Paul (or Pál) and when we assured we did, she said, “I want you to know that he is a very fine mathematician.” We assured her we knew that too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-determined-my-bacon-and-erdos-numbers/956843.md?page=2)