Famous Mathematicians
1. Pythagoras (Ancient Greece – around 570 BC)
Pythagoras is best known for the Pythagorean Theorem, which helps us find the sides of a right-angled triangle. The formula is a² + b² = c², where c is the longest side. He also believed that everything in the world could be explained with numbers, and he started one of the first math schools.
2. Euclid (Ancient Greece – around 300 BC)
Euclid is called the “Father of Geometry.” He wrote a book called Elements, which collected all the known math of his time in a clear and logical way. This book was used to teach math for over 2,000 years! He helped organize and explain shapes, lines, and angles, which is what we now call geometry.
3. Archimedes (Ancient Greece – 287 BC to 212 BC)
Archimedes was a mathematician, inventor, and scientist. He figured out how to measure things like area, volume, and density. He also discovered the principle of buoyancy, which explains why things float in water. He is famous for shouting “Eureka!” after making a discovery in the bathtub.
4. Isaac Newton (England – 1643 to 1727)
Isaac Newton made huge discoveries in math and science. He helped invent calculus, a type of advanced math used in science and engineering. He also used math to explain the laws of motion and gravity. His work changed the way people understood the universe.
5. Carl Friedrich Gauss (Germany – 1777 to 1855)
Gauss is often called the “Prince of Mathematics.” He made important discoveries in algebra, geometry, and statistics. When he was just a boy, he amazed his teacher by quickly solving a long math problem. He was a genius with numbers and worked on making math easier and more accurate.
6. Srinivasa Ramanujan (India – 1887 to 1920)
Ramanujan was a self-taught mathematician from India. Even though he had little formal education, he discovered many new formulas in number theory and infinite series. He believed his ideas came from a divine source, and his work still helps mathematicians today.
7. Katherine Johnson (USA – 1918 to 2020)
Katherine Johnson was a brilliant African-American mathematician who worked for NASA. She used her math skills to help send astronauts into space and bring them back safely. .She was a pioneer for women and African-Americans in science.
Summary
These mathematicians—Pythagoras, Euclid, Archimedes, Newton, Gauss, Ramanujan, and Katherine Johnson—made amazing contributions to the world of math. They lived in different times and places, but each of them helped us understand numbers, shapes, movement, and space. From ancient geometry to space travel, their discoveries still affect our lives today. Their passion and curiosity continue to inspire students, scientists, and dreamers around the world.
