Sophie Germain
French mathematician, physicist, and philosopher (1776-1831) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Marie-Sophie Germain (April 1, 1776 – June 27, 1831) was a French mathematician, physicist, and philosopher who made important contributions to differential geometry and number theory. She was born in 1776 in an era of revolution. In many ways Sophie embodied the spirit of revolution into which she was born. She was a middle-class female who went against the wishes of her family and the social prejudices of the time to become a highly recognized mathematician. It took a long time for her to be recognized and appreciated for her contributions to the field of mathematics, but she did not give up. Even today, it is felt that she was never given as much credit as she was due for the contributions she made in number theory and mathematical physics because she was a woman.
Sophie Germain | |
---|---|
Born | (1776-04-01)1 April 1776 Rue Saint-Denis, Paris, France |
Died | 27 June 1831(1831-06-27) (aged 55) Paris, France |
Nationality | French |
Known for | Elasticity theory and number theory (e.g. Sophie Germain prime numbers) |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Mathematician, physicist, and philosopher |
Academic advisors | Carl Friedrich Gauss (epistolary correspondent) |
Notes | |
Other name: Auguste Antoine Le Blanc |