Description
Ato Z of Mathematicians contains the fascinating biographies of 150 mathematicians: men and women from a variety of cultures, time periods, and socioeconomic backgrounds, all of whom have substantially influenced the history of mathematics. Some made numerous discoveries during a lifetime of creative work; others made a single contribution. The great Carl Gauss (1777–1855) developed the statistical method of least squares and discovered countless theorems in algebra, geometry, and analysis. Sir Isaac Newton (1643–1727), renowned as the primary inventor of calculus, was a profound researcher and one of the greatest scientists of all time. From the classical era there is Archimedes (287 B.C.E.–212 B.C.E.), who paved the way for calculus and made amazing investigations into mechanics and hydrodynamics. These three are considered by many mathematicians to be the princes of the field; most of the persons in this volume do not attain to the princes’ glory, but nevertheless have had their share in the unfolding of history.
CONTENTS
List of Entries vii
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction xi
Entries A to Z 1
Entries by Field 260
Entries by Country of Birth 262
Entries by Country of Major Scientific Activity 264
Entries by Year of Birth 266
Chronology 269
Bibliography 273
Index 291