Lagrange (1736— 18 13) is a famous French mathematician, mechanic and astronomer, a pioneer of variational method and the founder of analytical mechanics. 18th century is known as "the greatest hope in Europe and the greatest mathematician in Europe".
Lagrange was born in Turin, Italy. As the eldest son, his father wants him to study law. However, Lagrange has no interest in law and loves literature.
Until 16 years old, Lagrange was still very partial to literature and had no interest in mathematics. /kloc-when he was 0/6 years old, he accidentally read an article introducing Newton's calculus, discussing the advantages of analytical methods, which aroused his infinite admiration and admiration for Newton, so he made up his mind to become a Newton mathematician.
After entering the Royal Artillery Academy in Turin, Lagrange began to teach himself mathematics in a planned way. Thanks to his hard work, he made rapid progress and began to teach mathematics in this school before graduation. At the age of 20, he was officially appointed as an associate professor of mathematics in the school. From this year on, Lagrange began to study the problem of "minimax". He adopted the method of pure analysis. 1758 In August, he wrote to Euler about his research method, and Euler spoke highly of it. From then on, the two masters began to communicate frequently, and in this process, a new branch of mathematics-variational method was born.
1759, on the recommendation of Euler, Lagrange was nominated as a member of the Communication Academy of Berlin. Then, he was elected as a foreign academician of the Academy.
1762, the French Academy of Sciences offered a reward to solve the problem of why the moon rotates and always faces the earth with the same face when it rotates. Lagrange wrote an excellent paper, successfully solved this problem and won the Academy Award. Therefore, the name of Lagrange spread all over Europe and attracted the attention of the world. Two years later, the French Academy of Sciences put forward the so-called "six-body problem" of the perturbation problem between Jupiter's four satellites and the sun. Faced with this problem, Lagrange is fearless. After several sleepless nights, he finally found the answer by approximate solution, thus winning the prize again. This award won him a world reputation.
1766, Lagrange succeeded Euler as the director of the Institute of Physical Mathematics of the Berlin Academy of Sciences. During his 20 years as director, Lagrange published many papers and won many awards from the French Academy of Sciences: 1722, and the paper "On the Three-body Problem" won the prize; 1773, his paper "On the Long-term Equation of the Moon" won another prize; 1779, Lagrange's paper "Studying the Perturbation Theory of Comets by Experiments of Planetary Activities" won the double prize.
During his work in Berlin Academy of Sciences, Lagrange made extensive and in-depth research on algebra, number theory, differential equations, variational methods and mechanics. One of his most valuable contributions is in the theory of equations. His conclusion that it is impossible to solve general equations of degree n (n > 4) by algebraic operation can be said to be the basis for Galois to establish group theory.
Most notably, Lagrange completed the greatest classic work since Newton-On Indefinite Analysis. This book was written after 37 years of painstaking efforts. When it was published, he was over 50 years old. In this book, Lagrange wrote the universe into a rhythmic melody composed of numbers and equations, which developed dynamics to the peak and unified the two branches of solid mechanics and fluid mechanics. He established a beautiful and harmonious mechanical system by using the variational principle, which can be said to be the basis of the whole modern mechanics. Great scientist Hamilton praised this masterpiece as a "scientific poem".
18 13 April 10, Lagrange died of illness and completed his brilliant scientific journey. His rigorous scientific attitude and work style of striving for perfection affect every scientist. His academic achievements also provided rich nutrition for the growth of world famous mathematicians such as Gauss and Abel. It can be said that in the following 100 years, many important discoveries in mathematics were almost related to his research.
2. Sophie Kovalev Skaya, a famous female mathematician.
Sophia Kovalev Skaya (1850~ 189 1) is Russian. She won many firsts in her life: she was the first woman to get a doctorate in mathematics in history, the first female mathematician to be awarded the title of academician of China Academy of Sciences, and the first woman to become the first professor of mathematics in the world except Italy.
Sophie Kovalev Skaya has a special affection for mathematics since she was a child, and she has great curiosity and strong thirst for knowledge. When she was 8 years old, her family moved to Politino Manor. Because she didn't bring enough wallpaper, her parents posted the calculus lecture notes written by the famous mathematician Osterloh Gradsky on the wall of her room. At that time, Sophie Kovalev Skaya often sat alone in front of the bedroom wall, staring at the wonderful numbers and mysterious symbols on the wallpaper for hours. Later, Sophie Kovalev Skaya wrote in her autobiography: "I often sit in front of that mysterious wall, trying to explain some words and find out the correct order of these pages. Through repeated reading, those strange formulas and even some expressions on the page left a deep impression on my mind, even though I didn't know anything about them at the time. "
Sophie Kovalev Skaya's grandfather and grandfather were both excellent mathematicians, which may help to form her mathematical talent, but her success is mainly due to her unremitting efforts. When she is studying mathematics, she is always very attentive and can quickly understand and master what the teacher says. Once, the math teacher asked Sophie Kovalev Skaya to repeat what she said last class. Sophie Kovalev Skaya did not follow the teacher's method, but changed her way of thinking. When she finished, the teacher immediately gave her a thumbs-up and praised her for being great. Thus, Sophie Kovalev Skaya is good at independent thinking and actively seeks her own way of thinking, which is very important for her future mathematical research.
Sophie Kovalev Skaya wanted to continue studying advanced mathematics after graduating from high school, but there was widespread contempt for women in Russia at that time, and women were not entitled to higher education. For Sophie Kovalev Skaya, the only way to further her studies is to study abroad. Sophie Kovalev Skaya told her family about her desire to study abroad, which was strongly opposed by her family. In order to fight for the right to go to college, Sophie Kovalev Skaya broke through all kinds of obstacles and finally got her wish to study at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, and lived a tense and simple study life in a strange foreign city.
In the process of studying in Heidelberg University, in order to make greater progress, Sophie Kovalev Skaya went to the home of Professor Weisstras, a master mathematician who is known as the "father of modern analysis". The master of mathematics was moved by Sophie Kovalev Skaya's sincere attitude, and after many tests, she accepted this studious female student with satisfaction. Under the careful guidance of Weisstras, Sophie Kovalev Skaya studied mathematics harder. After a period of study and practice, Sophie Kovalev Skaya wrote three important academic papers on mathematics. Soon, she successfully solved the problem of "Mathematical Water Demon" that puzzled mathematicians 100 years, and thus won the famous "Bow Award".
Sophie Kovalev Skaya won many honors in her life and made great contributions to the development of mathematics, but she was never complacent. Unfortunately, she caught a cold during a trip and was bedridden because she couldn't rest in time. Soon she died at the age of 4 1.
3. Mathematicians on the maginot line
Vincent Doblin, a young French soldier, died heroically in World War II, but he was hailed as a mathematical genius. This is because when he served in maginot line, he wrote immortal mathematical manuscripts.
Doblin was born into a Jewish family in Germany. When anti-Semitism swept the Third Reich, he and his family fled from Berlin to France. 1938, at the age of 23, Doblin became the youngest doctor of mathematics in the history of the University of Paris, and soon became the mathematics tutor of his peers in the whole Paris area. At that time, his probability theory research project was considered as the most promising mathematical research project in Europe. He used to be a promising mathematician, but Hitler invaded France, which made his mathematics career tragically interrupted in 1940. Facing the invading German army, Doblin was determined to fight, not drag out an ignoble existence. He joined the French army and became an ordinary soldier.
Dobrin went to the front line with his upcoming research papers and theorems, and was stationed in maginot line. In the first few months of the war, his boss chartered him to continue his math research in all his spare time. /kloc-in the summer of 0/940, the German army crushed the resistance of the French army, and Doblin's infantry regiment also faced extinction. When other soldiers retreated, Doblin volunteered to stay with two comrades to resist the coming German army. On June 2 1 day, when the Germans were about to occupy the position, Doblin shot himself, preferring to die rather than be captured, at the age of 25. His younger brother Claude recalled: "Fortunately, Doblin burned all his research papers before the Germans captured the position, so that they did not fall into the hands of the Germans. He can't tolerate the Germans copying his ideas. "
After the war, Doblin's name was soon forgotten. However, half a century after his heroic sacrifice, an official of the French Academy of Sciences happened to find that Doblin carefully preserved his research results as early as February 1940 according to a secret storage rule dating back to Louis XIV. He sealed his manuscript of mathematical theory in an envelope and hid it in the basement of the Academy of Sciences. According to the secret collection rules, envelopes can only be opened with the permission of the author. In case the author dies, it must be opened from the date of collection 100. In this way, Doblin's manuscript will not be published until 2040. But after years of lobbying by academicians of the French Academy of Sciences and mathematicians all over the world, his brother Claude finally agreed to break this stereotype in the summer of 2000.
As a result, the mathematical manuscript written by Doblin during the Ardennes War was rediscovered. This established the young soldier's position as one of the most important figures in modern mathematics and the founder of contemporary probability theory. This caused a sensation in the French intelligentsia. The French Academy of Sciences published a special issue for this purpose, and published Doblin's manuscript in full, "to show respect for genius".
Bernard Blue, an outstanding French historian of mathematics, thinks that Doblin's paper fills the gap left by the mathematical analysis before World War II and the Japanese's progress in probability theory in 1950s. Doblin's research involves one of the most important fields of applied mathematics. He foresaw the motion law of things that are easily disturbed by irregularities, such as the motion of particles in fluids such as water.
Professor Joel was the first person to see Doblin's manuscript. He said; "I believe Doblin knows that he will be doomed to failure in this war. You will notice that he leaves as little written material as possible. He clearly knows that he is engaged in the most promising mathematical research work of that era, but unfortunately, time is running out, but he has written down his mathematical achievements that have not yet been fully formed. "
Claude said, "My brother and I have lived in the same room for 20 years, and I know his dreams and wishes." Although it took 60 years for him to be recognized by people, it still made me very happy. Doblin is a serious and talented person. He doesn't allow anything to distract him. Even going to the front line can't distract him. Although I know nothing about mathematics, I am always proud of my brother! "As a mathematician, Doblin is undoubtedly a rare genius, but as a soldier, Doblin is just a soldier. Doblin's death is the sorrow of the whole mathematical world! History may say: Mathematician Doblin should not have appeared in maginot line!
4. Mathematician Sue's transnational love affair.
"People went to Yaochi unexpectedly, and they thought about it all night. It's rare to be together for a lifetime, but once you reach the age of 100, you will never be together forever ... "This is a poem written by mathematician Su Wei for his late wife Su (Matsumoto) at the age of 100. Mizi is a great Japanese woman and one of the first foreigners to obtain China nationality. Sue accompanied her through 60 years of ups and downs and achieved a touching farewell at the turn of the century.
Get married in Sendai
1924 In the spring, Su, as the only international student from China, applied for the mathematics department of the famous Northeast Imperial University in Sendai and was admitted with the first place. Imperial University is a famous university in Japan. Sue won the first prize every year, and there are still some research projects going on, so he naturally became a celebrity in the school.
At this time, he paid special attention to another famous person in the school, Miko Matsumoto. Mizi is the daughter of Professor Matsumoto of Imperial University. She is not only outstanding in appearance, but also proficient in flower arrangement, calligraphy and tea ceremony. She also likes music, especially the guzheng. After a party, Sue saw it. I have always admired Sue, especially her wisdom and sincerity. Later, the two often spent the whole year together.
1927, the Department of Mathematics of Northeast Imperial University of Technology hired graduate student Su as an algebra lecturer, which made him the first foreign student to be a lecturer in the history of the university. The relationship between two people has been an open secret at school, and many people bless them; However, those who are always pursuing are jealous and say, "Sue is a hillbilly from China, and her family is very poor. Besides, people who study well may not succeed in the future. You won't have a good life with him. " But Mizi was unmoved. Sue can't stand the hostility of some boys. She doesn't want to be pestered by others. After discussion, they decided to get married as soon as possible.
My mother is a kind-hearted Japanese housewife. She thinks that Sue can entrust her life. Although Professor Matsumoto also likes Sue very much, he thinks that he is from China after all and comes from a humble background, so he has always disapproved of this marriage. At Mizi's insistence, Professor Matsumoto finally compromised. 1928, young people from other countries finally got together and tied the knot in Sendai. From then on, Miki Matsumoto changed her husband's surname to Sumiko.
Follow my husband to China.
Mizi became a housewife wholeheartedly. In order not to affect Su, she even gave up her specialties such as guzheng and calligraphy, leaving only tea ceremony and flower arrangement, because these two hobbies are good for Su's body and mind. One year after marriage, that is, 1929, Mizi gave birth to a girl. 193 1 At the beginning of the year, there were 4 1 research papers on affine differential geometry and related aspects, which appeared in mathematical journals in Japan, the United States and Italy, and became a well-known figure in Japanese and even international mathematics circles. The Matsumoto family all wanted Sue to stay and work in Japan, and Tohoku Imperial University also sent him a letter of appointment. Sue has her own difficulties. Before going abroad, he met his senior Chen, and after returning home, he set up a first-class mathematics department in his hometown. Now, Chen has finished his studies and returned to China ahead of schedule, and his stay has become a difficult problem for him.
Careful Mizi has long discovered that he sighs all day and doesn't want to have tea and rice at all. One night after dinner, Sue, who never smokes, smoked a stuffy cigarette and asked him what was on his mind. Sue told the whole truth. He doesn't want to stay in Japan for selfish reasons. To his surprise, Mizi heard his plan and didn't stop it. Instead, she encouraged him to say, "Qing, I support your decision. First of all, I love you, and you love China, so I also love China. I support you to go back to the place we all love, and I will follow you wherever you go. " In a few short words, Sue was particularly moved: she is a woman who knows everything! With the support of his wife Su, he returned to Hangzhou alone. The conditions of Zhejiang University are far worse than he imagined. Not only is the monthly salary stated in the letter of appointment far from that of yenching university, but because of the shortage of funds in the school, although he was rated as an associate professor, he didn't get a penny for four consecutive months. Fortunately, my brother, an engineer in Shanghai Arsenal, helped me in time, otherwise Sue would have to make a living by pawning. In order to support the family, Sue plans to go back to Japan.
The wind reached the ears of Shao Peizi, president of Zhejiang University. That night, the talented educator knocked on Sue's door: "You can't go back! You are our baby ... "Under the feeling be nasty, President Shao blurted out this sentence. Sue couldn't believe her ears. "Really, absolutely, you are our baby!" President Shao said excitedly. It was this sentence that magically dismissed Su's plan to return to Japan: "Well, I won't go." A few days later, President Shao personally raised 1200 yuan for Su, which solved his urgent need. During the summer vacation, Sue, who had some savings, went to Japan to meet her family.
1On July 7, 937, Japan launched a full-scale war of aggression against China. Su, He's life in China has just begun, and their life has been ups and downs. After the "August 13th Incident" this year, Japanese planes bombed Shanghai and Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas indiscriminately, and the environment of Zhejiang University was very dangerous. The school held a meeting all night to discuss and decided to move. At noon, Sue was packing in the department when a postman sent an urgent telegram. Soda came out and wrote a few short words on it: "Imperial University Hall decided to hire Su Hui as a professor of mathematics again, with good treatment." Sue said angrily, "You invaded our country, and you still want me to go?" He turned pale with anger and decided not to give any answer.
A few days later, an official of the Japanese Consulate in Hangzhou found Sue's home. Su happened to be away, and the official thought it was a Japanese woman, so he said, "As a Japanese, I wonder if my wife would like to come to the consulate to taste the delicious food in her hometown?" We are waiting wholeheartedly. " Mizi immediately refused to say, "I have been used to life and food in China since I married the Soviet army." The messenger had to leave.
A few days later, someone came to lobby Sue: "Your wife is Japanese and you are a Japanese son-in-law. The Japanese won't treat you badly. " Sue immediately asked, "You mean, you want me to be a traitor?" This is like a sword, leaving the other side speechless. When the couple made all the preparations for moving together with the school, they suddenly received an urgent telegram from Sendai: Professor Matsumoto is in critical condition! Sue handed over the telegram. He has a good relationship with his father-in-law, but he can't go back to visit his old man's house because of national issues. He wants Mizi to go back to Sendai alone to visit his father. After listening to his words, he bowed his head and thought for a moment, then added something that shocked Sue: "I'm not going back. Anyway, I support you! Always follow you! "
Farewell to the century in trouble
The difficult migration began. Sue carries the burden, with books and lesson plans at one end and young children at the other. Mi Zi holds simple clothes in one hand and the older children in the other. Because of the bad road conditions, in order to avoid the Japanese bombing, and there is no means of transportation, most of the time I walk like this. However, what is even more embarrassing is the harsh interrogation along the way. Because they are Japanese and enemies, every time they pass through the checkpoint, the military and political personnel on duty always review the Su family repeatedly. Sue's explanation didn't help. Later, the headmaster, Zhu Kezhen, was so fond of talents that he got special permission from the war zone chief, only to avoid this time.
After a long journey of more than 2,600 kilometers, teachers and students of Zhejiang University arrived in Meitan near Zunyi, Guizhou, and set up a temporary school building. Life was very difficult at that time, and the son born in Su Gang died of malnutrition. Holding her son's body in her hand, Mizi was very sad, but the Japanese woman's perseverance made her not complain. At that time, Sue was the head of the Department of Mathematics, but he didn't even have a good dress. He often wears patched clothes to the podium. When he drew geometric figures on the blackboard, his classmates pointed to him and said, "Look, Mr. Su's clothes are all triangles, trapezoid, squares and spiral curves!" " Michiko knows about it. She felt that she didn't fulfill her responsibilities as a wife, so she pawned the wedding anniversary jade that her grandmother gave her and added a new dress to Sue. Sue was surprised: "How can you pawn such a valuable thing in exchange for my clothes?" Redeem it quickly! " Mizi smiled sweetly: "I don't want my husband to be wronged." Not long after the school settled down, I caught up with the exam and made a defense report. One night, a student named Xiong came to Sue's house in a hurry. He was afraid that the report of the seminar the next day would not pass the official consultation. Sue said discontentedly, "How can you have a good job when you are cramming for the Buddha's last minute?" The bear's face flushed. Mizi heard the sound and quickly put on her clothes to duck. After Sue's guidance, Xiong returned to the dormitory for a busy night, and the paper finally passed the test the next day. Bear came to America and became a famous professor. More than 40 years later, he returned to China to visit Su Lao and said with deep affection, "Thanks to my husband's painful scolding." He was also very grateful to Mizi for his kindness: "Otherwise, I really don't know how to get out of that door!"
1982, Mizi was finally bedridden because of years of overwork. Sue arrives at the hospital at 4: 30 every afternoon, and is carefully cared for by medical staff. 1In May, 1986, Miko Matsumoto passed away quietly at the age of 8 1. Before she died, her greatest wish was to let Sue not be sad, but to live well. After his wife's death, Sue always took his wife's photo with him and said meaningfully, "I deeply understand the phrase' live in my heart'. It's like my wife is still walking in the garden with me, giving lectures in the pulpit and attending meetings together ... "In 2003, Sue, a centenarian, finished her last journey in the memory of her dead wife.
5. Chen Jingrun, a famous modern mathematician.
Chen Jingrun was born in Minhou Town, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province. His father, Chen, is a clerk in the post office.
When Chen Jingrun reached school age, his parents found him a primary school near his home and sent him to study. Of all the subjects, he especially likes mathematics. As long as he swims in the ocean of algebra and geometry, he can forget all his troubles.
Chen Jingrun usually doesn't like to talk, but he is diligent and curious. He always takes the initiative to ask the teacher questions or borrow reference books.
One day at noon, after the last class, Chen Jingrun walked out of the classroom and went home for dinner. He took out a teaching book just borrowed from the teacher from his schoolbag and read it while walking. The contents of the book flashed by like a movie, and Chen Jingrun threw himself on the bread like a hungry man, munching spiritual food.
He was absorbed in reading, and unconsciously deviated from the direction and walked to the small trees on the roadside. Only heard a "ouch", he bumped into a tree.
At the beginning of the outbreak of War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, Chen Jingrun just entered junior high school, and a math teacher in middle school fundamentally changed Chen Jingrun's life track. This teacher is Mr. Shen Yuan, who used to be the director of Tsinghua University Aviation Department. Once, Mr. Shen Yuan told the students a difficult math problem called Goldbach conjecture, and the students chattered.
Finally, Teacher Shen Yuan added: The queen of natural science is mathematics, the crown of mathematics is number theory, and Goldbach conjecture is the jewel in the crown!
After listening to this sentence, Chen Jingrun was shocked: "Goldbach conjecture, the jewel in the crown of mathematics, can I take this pearl?"
1973 February, Chen Jingrun's paper on (1+2) simplified proof was finally published! "Chen Theorem" immediately caused a sensation in the field of mathematics, and experts gave him a high evaluation.
Tell you gently:
Climbing the peak of science is like climbing Mount Everest. To overcome numerous difficulties and obstacles, it is impossible for cowards and lazy people to enjoy the joy of victory.
6. genius mathematician gauss
Speaking of the most famous genius among mathematicians, it must be Gauss.
The most popular story about gauss is "5050". The teacher originally wanted to quiet the class with a difficult problem, but it took little Gauss only a minute or two to tell the answer. He added 1, 2, 3 ... and 100, 99, 98 pairs, and got 50 pairs 10 1. Finally, he easily worked out that the sum from 1 to 100 was 5050.
Do you know that?/You know what? Do you know that?/You know what? Little Gauss learned to calculate when he was three years old. One day, he watched his father calculate the wages of servants. When his father finally quoted the total amount for a long time, a small voice came from around him, "Dad! Wrong calculation, it should be like this ... "My father calculated it again in surprise and was wrong. Although no one taught him, little Gauss learned to calculate by his own observation.
Little gauss's family is very poor. In winter, his father always lets him go to bed early to save fuel. But Gauss likes reading very much and always carries a radish (a radish-like plant) with him. He hollowed out the center, stuffed it into a cotton roll as a wick, lit a book with grease and got into bed until he was tired.
Gauss made rapid progress, and soon the teacher had nothing to teach him. Later, Gauss entered an institution of higher learning, but the math teacher read his homework and told him that he didn't have to take math classes in the future.
It is worth mentioning that Gauss is not only good at math, but also good at Chinese. /kloc-when he was 0/8 years old, he was very worried about whether to continue studying classical literature or mathematics in the future. At this time, he solved a problem that puzzled mathematicians for more than 2000 years, "A ruler is a regular heptagon", so he decided to continue studying mathematics.
There is a good metaphor. If we imagine mathematicians in the18th century as a series of high mountains, the last awe-inspiring peak is Gauss; If mathematicians in the19th century are imagined as rivers, then their source is Gauss.
People have always attributed Gauss's success to his "genius", but he himself said, "If others think deeply and continuously about mathematical truth like me, they will make the same discovery."