Mathematicians left baffled after three-year struggle over proof

Last week dozens of mathematicians met at the Mathematical Institute at the University of Oxford to discuss Mochizuki’s “inter-universal Teichmuller” (IUT) theory, a 500-page proof that he posted online in August 2012.

There is a growing consensus that Mochizuki has over-engineered his work, contributing to the confusion. “Most of the large theories that he builds are not essential. He could have written things in a much more streamlined way,” says Voloch.