3. René Descartes (1596-1650 AD)
Father of Modern Philosophy, René Descartes has been
accredited for his many mathematical contributions too.
His most known contribution to math is in the field of analytical
geometry. In his publication, Discourse on Method (Discours de
la methode), specifically its appendices on La Geometrie achieved
a milestone in compiling the history of mathematics. Moreover,
the book also introduced standard algebraic notation, use of
lowercase a, b and c for known quantities and x, y and z for
unknown quantities.
4. Pierre de Fermat (1601-1665 AD)
Although a lawyer by profession, Pierre de Fermat was a mathematician at heart
which led him, along with René Descartes, to become one of the two leading
mathematicians of the seventeenth century. He is famous for the factorization
method named Fermat’s factorization method and discovering a unique method for
finding the greatest and smallest ordinates in curved lines.
Looking to the works of Diophantus, Fermat played an influential role in
infinitesimal calculus, probability, optics and analytic geometry. His ground breaking
research was however in the discovery of new patterns in numbers – something
which had defeated mathematicians since centuries.
5. Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)
Philosopher, physicist, inventor, writer and mathematician, Blaise Pascal is known
for his invention of the mechanical calculator.
Pascal also contributed greatly to other research areas such as probability theory,
projective geometry, cycloid and the arithmetic triangle. Along with his colleague
Fermat, Pascal developed the foundations for mathematical theory of probabilities.
In the natural and applied sciences, Pascal worked on concepts such as fluids,
pressure and vacuum. It is in his honour that a programming language has been
named and the SI unit of pressure. Other such contributions which carry his name
include the Pascal triangle, Pascal’s law, and Pascal’s wager.
6. Andre Weil (1906-1998)
French mathematician, traveler and linguist, Andre Weil was an influential figure in
the field of mathematics during the 20th century. Being a child prodigy, Weil took
up mathematics as a very early addiction. He was a lecturer for all of his life and
taught in Gottengen, Rome, Paris as well as Aligarh Muslim University in India
where he was deeply inspired by Hinduism and Sanskrit writings.
7. Andre Weil (1906-1998)
Andre made significant contributions in the field of mathematics. His most
important achievement was when he discovered a connection between number
theory and algebraic geometry. Moreover, he developed a theory on algebraic curves
based on his study of Diophantine equations. In the field of rational numbers, he
introduced a topological ring known as the adele ring in algebraic number theory.
Weil also laid the groundwork for classical theory of quadratic forms with his
development of the Weil representation.
He remained professor at Institute for Advanced Studies at Princeton throughout
his lifetime and was also an honorary member of American National Academy of
Sciences, London Mathematical Society, the Royal Society of London and the
French Academy of Sciences.
8. Joseph Fourier (1768-1830)
Joseph Fourier was pioneering mathematician and physicist, famous for developing
the ‘Fourier Series’.
In his paper, The Analytic Theory of Heat (1822), Fourier presented using Newton’s
law of cooling; his research on how the conduction of heat in solid bodies could be
analyzed using infinite mathematical series, called the Fourier Series. He further
applied the same investigation to apply it to heat transfer and vibrations. This was the
first exactly correct theory based on heat diffusion.
Fourier is also famously known for discovering the greenhouse effect explaining how
the Earth should ideally be much cooler than it is and the reason for this heat was
incoming solar radiation
