Thanks for the question! So it’s certainly true that a mathematician in 1976 could still be alive today and currently be a mathematician today. But the question is about mathematicians at that time. A mathematician actually in 1976 can’t be a mathematician today (assuming it’s not 1976) because they’re in 1976, and we’re not. The mathematician at that time is still a mathematician of 1976, and evolves into the mathematician they become today.
Hope this helps! Feel free to ask any other questions that you might have.
