The Important Role of Mathematicians in Society

Euclid of Alexandria “The Element” Euclid, also known as Euclid of Alexandria, lived from 323-283 BC. He was a famous Greek mathematician, often referred to as the ‘Father of Geometry”. The dates of his existence were so long ago that the date and place of Euclid’s birth and the date and circumstances of his death are unknown, and only is roughly estimated in proximity to figures mentioned in references around the world. Alexandria was a broad teacher that taught lessons across the world. He taught at Alexandria in Egypt.

The Ancient Indians had some mathematical achievements. One of their mathematical achievements, which was shown in the Vedic texts, is that they had names for every number up to one billion. The Vedic texts also show that they managed to calculate irrational numbers, such as√3, very accurately (Whitfield, Traditions 42).... ... middle of paper ... ...affect us in numerous ways, such as in architecture, modern mathematics, modern science, the medical world, technology, and much more. Ancient India, China, and Greece all contributed to math and science, however, the Greek achievements influenced us the most. They invented Pythagorean Theorem, calculated the value of pi, discovered atoms, accurately found the size of the Earth, and had much more accomplishments than India or China.

The authors of this article also pose a few questions at the end of their introduction, regarding the “who what and when’s” of the founding of calculus. In an attempt to satisfy their questions, Harding and Scott take look at the history of the famous philosopher, and one of the founders of calculus, Archimedes. The subsection about Archimedes describes Ancient Greece, and how countless citizens of the area yearned to know how their world functioned. They depended on mathematicians and philosophers to inform them of the structure of the universe. One of the most renowned philosophers of the time, Archimedes of Susa, became one of the forefathers of calculus with his method of finding the area of shapes that were previously impossible to figure (Harding, 1976).

When you think about Mathematicians, you think about rich and incalculably intelligent old people. What comes into my head is my Middle School’s mathematician who had a sharp nose, was extremely strict and surprisingly, not quite as old as we may rudely often think. The real definition of a Mathematician is a person with an extensive knowledge of mathematics who uses this knowledge in their work, normally to solve mathematical problems. One famous Mathematician, named Qin Jiushao along with many other mathematicians revolutionized the math world and helped create simpler methods with their mathematical knowledge. Qin Jiushao was born on 1202 in Anyue of Sichan.

Ancient Egyptians were a very important aspect to our past. The earliest forms of math derived from ancient Egyptians. The Egyptians lived in what is known as the old kingdom. They were the fits tot practice the mathematical and scientific arts. The word chemistry is derived from the word Alchemy which is and ancient name for Egypt.

From ancient Greek mathematics, came many brilliant scholars such as: Pythagorus, Aristotle, Eudemus, Theophrastus, Archimedes, Aristotle, and Euclid. Of all the civilizations of the ancient world, the most a developed and inovative was that of ancient Greece. The best estimated time of the Greek civilization is dated back to 2800 BC. Around that time, the pyramids were being constructed in Egypt. (Allen) The Greeks built more onto what the Egyptians began building during the time of the pyramids.

Number problems were studied from at least 1700B.C. Systems of linear equations were studied in the context of solving number problems. The basic of mathematics was inherited by the Greeks and independent by the Greeks beg the major Greek progress in mathematics was from 300 BC to 200 AD. After this time progress continued in Islamic countries Unlike the Babylonians, the Egyptians did not develop fully their understanding of mathematics. Instead, they concerned themselves with practical applications of mathematics.

These were also recorded with cuneiform and recorded on clay tablets, and like the language, served as an early interpretation of mathematical principles that influence arithmetic all over the world today. Dating back to the second and third milennia BC, Babylonians were so advanced as to having arithmetic tables established, however, perhaps their biggest influence was the establishment of a sexiagesimal numeral system. This means that the Babylonians were pioneers in the aspect that they established a number system based on the numeral sixty. As it is a highly factorable number, Babylonians recognized 60 to be of great value in tracking and calculations and configurations. The Babylonians divided the day into 24 hours, each hour into 60 minutes, each minute into 60 seconds.

At his request, the figure of a sphere and cylinder as engraved on his tombstone. In fact, it is often said that Archimedes would have invented calculus if the Greeks had only possessed a more tractable mathematical notation. By inscribing and circumscribing polygons on a circle, for instance, he was able to constrain the value of (pi ) between 3 10/71 and 3+1/7. Ĉ Archimedes was also an outstanding engineer, formulating Archimedes' principle of buayancy and the law of the lever. Legend has it that Archimedes discovered his principle of buoyancy, which states that the buoyancy force is equal to the weight of the liquid displaced, while taking a bath, upon which he is supposed to have run naked through the streets of Syracuse shouting ``Eureka!''

Since Hilbert’s study in 1900 on mathematical problems, his questions have influenced mathematics still today. (Jeremy Gray) David Hilbert was born on 23rd January, 1862, Konigsberg, Germany. He attended the University of Konigsberg in the year 1880 to 1885, gymnasium of Wilhelm in the year 1879 to 1880 and Friedricskolleg gymnasium in the year 1872 to 1879. Some of the books that David Hilbert wrote include; statistical mechanics, theory of algebraic number fields, the foundations of geometry and principles of mathematical logic. Hilbert’s 23 mathematical problems were more than just a collection of mathematical problems because he outlined problems that addressed his mathematical philosophy.