Every year, the birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan on December 22 is celebrated as National Mathematics Day. This article delves into the life and significant contributions of Ramanujan, one of the greatest mathematicians India has ever produced.
Who is Srinivasa Ramanujan?
Born on 22nd December, 1887 in Erode, Tamil Nadu, Srinivasa Ramanujan was a mathematical genius who made remarkable contributions to the field. However, his journey wasn’t always smooth. He received a scholarship to the University of Madras in 1903 but he lost it the following year due to his single-minded focus on mathematics, which caused him to ignore other subjects.
Ramanujan’s career took a turn in 1911 when he published his first paper in the Journal of the Indian Mathematical Society. In 1913, he started corresponding with British mathematician Godfrey H. Hardy. This communication led him to receive a special scholarship from the University of Madras and a grant from Trinity College, Cambridge. His exceptional skills earned him a spot in the Royal Society of London in 1918, making him one of the youngest members and also the first Indian to be elected a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge University. Sadly, Ramanujan’s brilliant life was cut short with his demise on 26th April 1920 in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India.
Formulas and Equations: Pioneering Contributions
Ramanujan compiled around 3,900 results including equations and identities during his career. Amongst these, his infinite series for Pi holds a special place. He provided multiple formulas for calculating the digits of Pi, many involving unconventional methods.
Ramanujan and Game Theory
His innovative solutions for complex mathematical problems laid the foundation for the evolution of game theory. Ramanujan’s inputs to this field were based on instinctive intuition and natural talent, standing unparalleled to this day.
The Legacy: Ramanujan’s Book and the Ramanujan Number
One of Ramanujan’s notebooks was found by George Andrews in 1976 in the library at Trinity College. The contents of this notebook were later published as a book, further disseminating his mathematical discoveries. The number 1729, now referred to as the Ramanujan Number, is another testament to his genius. It’s the smallest number that can be expressed as the sum of two different cubes in two different ways — the sum of cubes of 10 and 9, and the sum of cubes of 12 and 1.
Ramanujan’s Other Contributions
In addition to these achievements, Ramanujan made significant breakthroughs in other areas of mathematics as well. His noteworthy contributions include hypergeometric series, the Riemann series, elliptic integrals, mock theta function, the theory of divergent series, and the functional equations of the zeta function. Each of these contributions have left an indelible mark on the field of mathematics.