RENOWNED MATHEMATICIANS: 10 GREAT MATHEMATICIANS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Introduction
Prehistoric periods are when mathematics was first practiced; it predates any written history. Clay tablets were used by scribes for bookkeeping more than 5,000 years ago, according to evidence from Sumerian towns, which are the earliest known civilizations. However, it may be assumed that mathematics existed for a very long time before that, even if people back then were unaware of its existence.
There have been many great personalities who have paved the path for those who would come after them and be inspired by their work. Since then, mathematics has come a long way. Mathematical concepts are relevant to everyone, regardless of whether or not they have a personal interest in the subject matter. It is not easy to be a mathematician. However, only a select few individuals have gained fame and mastery in this field. A number of well-known Indian mathematicians have been among those individuals. A number of well-known mathematicians and the contributions they made to the field of mathematics will be the subject of discussion in this article.
A List of Renowned Mathematicians and Their Contributions
- Pythagoras (570 – 490 B.C.)
The ancient Greek mathematician Pythagoras is often considered to be among the most renowned and well-known figures in the history of mathematics. He is most well-known for the Pythagorean Theorem, which is still considered to be one of the most important foundational concepts in the area of geometry. The way that mathematicians think about and comprehend triangle interactions was fundamentally altered as a result of his efforts.
Fun Fact: In addition to his contributions as a mathematician, Pythagoras established a school in Croton, which is located in the Crotone region of Southern Italy at the present time. The people who attended his school were called as Pythagoreans because they adhered to the principles that Pythagoras had given. They believed that numbers have mystical properties and that the Earth was truly a sphere that rotated around the sun. This was a long time before the heliocentric model was created.
- Hypatia (355 – 415 BC)
In addition to being the first female mathematician whose life and work have been thoroughly documented, Hypatia is renowned for the enormous contributions she made to the disciplines of mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy. Although she lived in Alexandria, which was a hub of scholarship and information during the fourth century, mathematics was still a field that was controlled by men to a significant extent. Nevertheless, in spite of this suffering, she is known for possessing exceptional endurance, intelligence, and courage.
Interesting Fact: Hypatia is famed for her achievements in the sciences of mathematics and astronomy; yet, she is also known for her terrible end. In the year 415 BC, she was killed in cold blood by a mob of Christian religious fanatics simply because she was both a pagan and a female intellectual.
Srinivasa Ramanujan (1887 -1920)
In spite of the fact that he had no official education or training in mathematics, Ramanujan, an Indian mathematician, taught himself complicated mathematics and went on to become one of the most influential mathematicians who ever lived. In spite of the fact that he had a relatively brief life, he is widely recognized for the significant contributions he made to the fields of number theory, analysis, and continuous fractions.
Interesting Fact: Ramanujan felt that his mathematical abilities were inspired by the divine. He said that the Hindu goddess Namagiri frequently shared mathematical formulas and equations with him while he was dreaming.
Emily Noether (1882 – 1935)
Emmy Noether was a prominent German mathematician who worked during the 20th century. She is well-known for her groundbreaking contributions to the disciplines of theoretical physics and abstract algebra.
Fact: Noether’s Theorem, which establishes a connection between the principles of conservation and the features of symmetry, is considered to be one of the most significant contributions that Noether made to the field of mathematics. Due to the fact that she is a woman, she would be met with a great deal of criticism if she pursued a career in mathematics; nonetheless, she is now recognized as a true pioneer for women in STEM fields.
Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777 – 1855)
It is common practice to refer to Carl Friedrich Gauss as the “Prince of Mathematicians.” He is widely regarded as one of the most renowned mathematicians in history due to the several substantial contributions he made to the study of mathematics. These contributions include the subjects of statistics, differential equations, and number theory.
Fact: From a very young age, Gauss was regarded as an exceptionally bright mathematician. It was when he was just three years old that he was able to effectively identify and remedy an error that his father had made while calculating payrolls!
Was there really any possibility that Sir Isaac Newton would not be featured in the list? For his innovative contributions to the fields of calculus and astronomy, Isaac Newton is widely regarded as one of the most influential and famous mathematicians and scientists of all time. However, he is most well-known for inventing the laws of gravity and motion. As a result of the fact that he is recognized to this day for laying the way for contemporary mathematics and physics as we know it today, he is considered to be the most famous mathematician in the history of the world. He is frequently attributed with the discovery of calculus.
Interesting Fact: In addition to his studies in mathematics and physics, Isaac Newton also devoted a significant amount of his time to the study of alchemy, which is the ancient art of attempting to transform ordinary medals into gold. He wrote extensively on the subject. Many people assume that he died as a result of mercury poisoning that he received while working on an alchemy experiment. However, the precise reason of his death is still unknown.
Albert Einstein, a renowned genius, is primarily recognized for his contributions to the field of theoretical physics. However, he also made significant contributions to the field of mathematical physics, including his ground-breaking theory of relativity, which would result in a permanent shift in the way that we think about reality.
Fact: In terms of his cognitive talents, Einstein was a late bloomer. This is a fun fact. As a matter of fact, he did not learn how to talk in an appropriate manner until he was three years old, which led his teachers to feel that he was delayed.
Shakuntala Devi (1929 – 2013)
Devi, an Indian mathematician and mental calculator, is commonly referred to as the Human Computer. The extraordinary mental math abilities that she possesses have earned her a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records, and she is deserving of a place on the list of notable mathematicians.
Fact: It is a well-known fact that Devi is capable of mentally performing extremely complex mathematical calculations in a matter of seconds. In 1982, she achieved a world record by multiplying two randomly selected 13-digit integers in her head in less than thirty seconds.
Grigori Perelman (1966 – Present)
An outstanding Russian mathematician, Perelman is well-known for his solution to the Poincaré conjecture, which was one of the seven problems that were considered for the Millennium Prize in 2002. According to the conjecture, any finite three-dimensional space that does not have any boundaries is the topical equivalent of a three-dimensional sphere.
A fun fact is that in 2002, when the solution that Perelman had found to the Poincaré conundrum was proved, he was given a prize of one million dollars in addition to the coveted Fields Medal. On the other hand, he chose not to accept any of the awards, citing the fact that he was not concerned with fame or money.
Euclid (325 and 265 BC)
In his capacity as a mathematician in ancient Alexandria, Euclid fundamental textbook, titled “Elements,” consolidated and enlarged the theories as well as understandings of mathematics and geometry that were prevalent throughout his time period. Many of his theorems are still in use today, and he is considered to be the “Father of Geometry.”
The fact that there is very little knowledge about Euclid’s personal life that comes from writings or first-hand experiences has led many modern researchers to hypothesize that Euclid may not have been a single individual but rather a school or group of mathematicians releasing their work under one common name. This is a fun fact.
Conclusion
It is important to remember that mathematics is a discipline of study that has been formed by the brilliance and perseverance of a diverse and bold set of thinkers from many walks of life. These notable mathematicians and their tales serve as a reminder of this fact. In spite of the fact that this list only included a tiny number of the most notable mathematicians throughout history, the true history of mathematics encompasses a vast and ever-expanding collection of individuals who have made remarkable and enduring contributions to the area of mathematics and STEM in general.
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