![]() Sum or total of a set of numbers, denoted by the Greek letter Σ.Other notations created or popularized by Euler include: In his textbooks, Euler was the first mathematician to introduce the concept of a function in mathematical analysis, as well as the first mathematician to write the function f as applied to the variable x: f(x). While Euler published many textbooks, two he published in Berlin made him famous in his field: Introductio in analysin infinitorum (1748) on functions and Institutiones calculi differentialis (1755) on differential calculus. “Euler’s constant”, or γ (gamma), is approximately equal to 0.57721.The “ e” mathematical constant in calculus stands for “Euler”, and is approximately equal to 2.71828.There are two well-known numbers named after Euler: It’s no wonder that Pierre-Simon Laplace reportedly said “Read Euler he is the master of us all.” Euler contributed to topics such as functions in number theory and angles that define rotations in space. ![]() It’s hard to solve formulas or talk about mathematical theories without referencing Euler’s work in one way or another. Adding Up Euler’s Mathematical Contributions Euler spent 25 years at the Berlin Academy before returning to Russia, and it was in Berlin where he wrote his most groundbreaking work. Petersburg, Russia, as both a medic in the Russian Navy and a professor of physics at the Imperial Russian Academy of Sciences, Euler moved to Berlin, Germany, to accept a job offer from Frederick the Great of Prussia. Image in the public domain in the United States, via Wikimedia Commons.Īfter spending some time in St. More success soon followed: In 1727, Euler placed second in an annual Paris Academy prize problem competition, a prize he came to win a total of 12 times.Ī portrait of Leonhard Euler. In fact, by the end of his lifetime, Euler’s total collected works filled 60 to 80 quarto volumes, a larger collection than anyone else’s in the field. During his time at the university, he studied intensively with family friend and famed mathematician Johann Bernoulli, who encouraged Euler to pursue a career in mathematics.Įuler wrote a dissertation a few years later on the propagation of sound, titled De Sono, which was the first of many published mathematical works. By age 13, he was already studying at the University of Basel, and by 16, he earned a Master of Philosophy degree. Leonhard Euler (pronounced “oiler”) was born on April 15, 1707, in Basel, Switzerland. Best known for his eponymous formula and identity equation, part of his genius was the ability to apply equations to the world around him and explain scientific concepts in terms that a layperson could understand. He made formative contributions to whole branches of mathematics, among them infinitesimal calculus, graph theory, and topology. Prolific and profound, Leonhard Euler is considered one of the greatest mathematical scientists of all time.
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