Aryabhata I
- Born:
- 476 CE, possibly Ashmaka or Kusumapura, India
- Died:
- 550 CE (aged 74), possibly Kusumapura, India
- Nationality:
- Indian
- Profession(s):
- Mathematician, Astronomer, Astrologer
Early Life and Education
Details of Aryabhata's early life are scarce. It is believed he studied at Kusumapura (near modern Patna) which was a major center of learning.
Career and Major Achievements
- Pioneered the use of algebra in astronomy.
- Proposed that the Earth rotates on its axis, anticipating heliocentric models.
- Accurately calculated the value of Pi (π) to four decimal places.
- Developed a numeral system with a place-value system and zero.
Notable Works
- Aryabhatiya: A comprehensive treatise covering arithmetic, algebra, plane trigonometry, and spherical trigonometry.
- Arya-Siddhanta: A lost astronomical text.
Legacy and Impact
Aryabhata's work significantly influenced Indian mathematics and astronomy, and its impact spread to the Islamic world. He is considered one of the most important figures in the history of mathematics and astronomy.
Brahmagupta
- Born:
- 598 CE, Bhinmal, Rajasthan, India
- Died:
- c. 668 CE (aged around 70), India
- Nationality:
- Indian
- Profession(s):
- Mathematician, Astronomer
Early Life and Education
Brahmagupta was the head of the astronomical observatory at Ujjain, a prominent center for mathematical and astronomical studies.
Career and Major Achievements
- First to give rules to compute with zero.
- Made significant contributions to the understanding of negative numbers.
- Developed formulas for cyclic quadrilaterals.
Notable Works
- Brahmasphutasiddhanta: A comprehensive treatise on astronomy and mathematics.
- Khandakhadyaka: A more practical manual for astronomers.
Legacy and Impact
Brahmagupta's work on zero and negative numbers was revolutionary. His contributions significantly influenced the development of mathematics in India and beyond, particularly in the Islamic world.
Bhaskara I
- Born:
- c. 600 CE, possibly near Prabhas Patan, Gujarat, India
- Died:
- c. 680 CE, India
- Nationality:
- Indian
- Profession(s):
- Mathematician, Astronomer
Early Life and Education
Details of Bhaskara I's early life are limited. He was a follower of Aryabhata's school of astronomy.
Career and Major Achievements
- Provided a unique and remarkable formula for approximating the sine function.
- Wrote commentaries on Aryabhata's Aryabhatiya.
- Made significant contributions to understanding the place-value system.
Notable Works
- Commentary on the Aryabhatiya.
Legacy and Impact
Bhaskara I's commentary on the Aryabhatiya is an invaluable resource for understanding Aryabhata's work. His sine approximation formula demonstrates a high level of mathematical skill.
Mahavira
- Born:
- c. 800 CE, Gulbarga, Karnataka, India
- Died:
- c. 870 CE, India
- Nationality:
- Indian
- Profession(s):
- Mathematician
Early Life and Education
Mahavira was a Jain mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of mathematics.
Career and Major Achievements
- Systematically dealt with fractions.
- Solved problems involving the least common multiple (LCM).
- Provided rules for calculating areas of various geometric shapes.
Notable Works
- Ganita Sara Samgraha: A comprehensive treatise on arithmetic.
Legacy and Impact
Mahavira's Ganita Sara Samgraha is an important source of information on early Indian mathematics, particularly in the field of arithmetic and geometry. His work helped preserve and transmit mathematical knowledge.
Sridhara
- Born:
- c. 870 CE, possibly in South India
- Died:
- c. 930 CE, India
- Nationality:
- Indian
- Profession(s):
- Mathematician
Early Life and Education
Sridhara was an Indian mathematician who wrote on arithmetic, algebra, and mensuration. Details of his early life are scarce.
Career and Major Achievements
- Gave a rule for finding the volume of a sphere.
- Provided a method for solving quadratic equations.
- Worked on the concept of zero.
Notable Works
- Patiganita: A treatise on arithmetic.
- Trisatika: Another work on arithmetic, also known as the Patiganitasara.
- Bijaganita: A work on algebra (fragments survive).
Legacy and Impact
Sridhara's work on quadratic equations and the volume of a sphere were important contributions to mathematics. His writings helped to advance mathematical knowledge in India.
Bhaskara II (Bhaskaracharya)
- Born:
- 1114 CE, Bijapur, Karnataka, India
- Died:
- 1185 CE (aged 71), India
- Nationality:
- Indian
- Profession(s):
- Mathematician, Astronomer
Early Life and Education
Bhaskara II, also known as Bhaskaracharya, was the head of the astronomical observatory at Ujjain, continuing a long tradition of mathematical scholarship.
Career and Major Achievements
- Developed preliminary concepts of calculus, including derivatives.
- Made significant advances in algebra, including solving indeterminate equations.
- Provided solutions to problems in arithmetic, algebra, and geometry.
Notable Works
- Siddhanta Shiromani: His major work, divided into four parts: Lilavati (arithmetic), Bijaganita (algebra), Grahaganita (mathematics of the planets), and Goladhyaya (sphere).
Legacy and Impact
Bhaskara II's work on calculus and algebra was centuries ahead of its time. He is considered one of the most important mathematicians in medieval India. The Lilavati section of his Siddhanta Shiromani is particularly famous.
Madhava of Sangamagrama
- Born:
- c. 1340 CE, Sangamagrama (present-day Irinjalakuda), Kerala, India
- Died:
- c. 1425 CE (aged around 85), Kerala, India
- Nationality:
- Indian
- Profession(s):
- Mathematician, Astronomer
Early Life and Education
Madhava was the founder of the Kerala School of Astronomy and Mathematics.
Career and Major Achievements
- Developed infinite series expansions for trigonometric functions like sine, cosine, and tangent.
- Estimated Pi (π) with remarkable accuracy.
- Made significant contributions to calculus, predating European developments.
Notable Works
- His original works are mostly lost, but his ideas are preserved in later works by his disciples.
Legacy and Impact
Madhava's work on infinite series and calculus was revolutionary. He is considered one of the most important figures in the history of mathematics, even though his contributions were not widely known outside of the Kerala school until much later. His work represents a significant advance in the understanding of infinite series and calculus concepts.
C. R. Rao (Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao)
- Born:
- September 10, 1920, Huvvina Hadagali, Bellary, Madras Presidency, British India (present-day Karnataka, India)
- Died:
- August 22, 2023, Buffalo, New York, United States
- Nationality:
- Indian-American
- Profession(s):
- Statistician, Mathematician
Early Life and Education
C. R. Rao received his M.A. in Mathematics from Andhra University and M.A. in Statistics from Calcutta University. He later earned a Ph.D. from Cambridge University.
Career and Major Achievements
- Developed the Cramér–Rao bound, a fundamental result in estimation theory.
- Introduced the Rao–Blackwell theorem, which provides a method for improving estimators.
- Made significant contributions to multivariate analysis, discriminant analysis, and statistical inference.
Notable Works
- Linear Statistical Inference and Its Applications
- Numerous research papers in statistical journals.
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| National Medal of Science | 2002 |
| International Prize in Statistics | 2023 |
Legacy and Impact
C. R. Rao's work has had a profound impact on the field of statistics. His theorems and methods are widely used in various applications, including econometrics, biostatistics, and engineering. He is considered one of the most influential statisticians of the 20th and 21st centuries. He is also considered a key figure in the history of "ten indian mathematician biography."
Srinivasa Ramanujan
- Born:
- December 22, 1887, Erode, Madras Presidency, British India (present-day Tamil Nadu, India)
- Died:
- April 26, 1920 (aged 32), Kumbakonam, Madras Presidency, British India (present-day Tamil Nadu, India)
- Nationality:
- Indian
- Profession(s):
- Mathematician
Early Life and Education
Srinivasa Ramanujan demonstrated extraordinary mathematical abilities from a young age. Despite lacking formal education, he independently developed significant mathematical concepts.
Career and Major Achievements
- Made substantial contributions to number theory, infinite series, and mathematical analysis.
- Discovered remarkable formulas and identities, many of which remain unexplained.
- Worked with G. H. Hardy at Cambridge University, publishing groundbreaking papers.
Notable Works
- His notebooks contain thousands of theorems and formulas, many of which have been proven decades later.
Legacy and Impact
Srinivasa Ramanujan's short but brilliant career left an indelible mark on mathematics. His intuitive understanding and unique approach to problem-solving continue to inspire mathematicians today. Many of his discoveries have practical applications in areas like cryptography and computer science.
Harish-Chandra
- Born:
- October 11, 1923, Kanpur, British India (present-day Uttar Pradesh, India)
- Died:
- October 16, 1983 (aged 60), Princeton, New Jersey, United States
- Nationality:
- Indian-American
- Profession(s):
- Mathematician
Early Life and Education
Harish-Chandra studied at Allahabad University and later earned a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Cambridge University under Paul Dirac. He subsequently switched his focus to mathematics.
Career and Major Achievements
- Made fundamental contributions to representation theory, particularly of semisimple Lie groups.
- Developed the "Harish-Chandra isomorphism," a key concept in representation theory.
- His work significantly advanced the understanding of harmonic analysis on Lie groups.
Notable Works
- Numerous research papers on representation theory and related topics.
Legacy and Impact
Harish-Chandra's work revolutionized representation theory and harmonic analysis. His insights and techniques continue to be essential tools for mathematicians working in these areas. He is regarded as one of the most influential mathematicians of the 20th century.