MacTutor
Mathematicians Of The Day
1st October
On this day in 1386 University of Heidelberg was founded. It is the oldest university in Germany and was the fourth university established in the Holy Roman Empire.
Click on Ⓟ for a poster.
Born:
- 1671: Guido Grandi Ⓟ
- 1814: Franc Mocnik Ⓟ
- 1862: Henri Andoyer Ⓟ
- 1873: Alfreds Meders
- 1898: Béla Kerékjártó Ⓟ
- 1911: Wei-Liang Chow Ⓟ
- 1912: Kathleen Ollerenshaw Ⓟ
- 1920: Roman Ingarden Ⓟ
- 1921: Roger Godement Ⓟ
- 1954: Dončo Dimovski Ⓟ
Died:
- 1768: Robert Simson Ⓟ
- 1919: Philip Jourdain Ⓟ
- 1924: John Campbell Ⓟ
- 1930: Domenico Montesano Ⓟ
- 1955: Filadelfo Insolera Ⓟ
- 1972: Francisco José Duarte Ⓟ
- 1982: Friedrich Bachmann Ⓟ
- 1990: John Bell Ⓟ
- 1996: Herbert Seifert Ⓟ
Quotation of the day
From Kathleen Ollerenshaw
There is a strong parallel between mountain climbing and mathematics research. When first attempts on a summit are made, the struggle is to find any route. Once on the top, other possible routes up may be discerned and sometimes a safer or shorter route can be chosen for the descent or for subsequent ascents. In mathematics the challenge is finding a proof in the first place. Once found, almost any competent mathematician can usually find an alternative often much better and shorter proof. At least in mountaineering we know that the mountain is there and that, if we can find a way up and reach the summit, we shall triumph. In mathematics we do not always know that there is a result, or if the proposition is only a figment of the imagination, let alone whether a proof can be found.
