Leonhard+Euler



=Leonhard Euler=

Biography
Leonhard Euler was born in Basel, Switzerland on April 15, 1707. His last name is pronounced "Oiler." In his youth, Euler studied under Johann Bernoulli who was considered by many to be the most important mathematician in Europe at the time. In his early years of school he attended a poor school and learned very little mathematics from his teachers, but because he was so interested in math he taught himself with the help of private instructors. His father was a minister, and he wanted Leonhard to follow in his footsteps. Leonhard earned a Master's degree in Philosophy when he was only 16 years old with a dissertation comparing and contrasting Newton and Descartes. He did begin begin his studies to become a minister, but he could not get over his enthusiasm for mathematics. After completing his education, Euler moved to Russia where he spent the next 15 years teaching Math and Science at the Imperial Russian Academy of Sciences and working as a medic in the Russian Navy. He married his wife Katharina Gsell during this time, and they had 13 children, only 5 of which survived. Following his time in Russia, he left to teach at the Berlin Academy in Germany. During his time working under Frederick the Great and alongside Voltaire he was continually bullied for his humble belief in the value of hard work and simple life. After leaving Berlin, Euler returned to Russia to once again teach at the Russian Academy of Sciences. In 1783 at the age of 76, Euler suffered a brain hemorrhage and passed away. After his death, the Russian Academy continued to publish his unpublished work for almost 50 years.

Important Mathematical Discoveries
Euler is responsible for much of the notation that we use in math to this day. He introduced notation for functions (//f(x)//), as well as the common use of the symbols π, Σ, //e//, and //i// for common mathematical constants and operations. Euler's Identity is regarded by many to be one of the most remarkable formulas in all of mathematics. In 1988, readers of the //Mathematical Intelligencer// voted this formula as the most beautiful mathematical formula ever. Euler was a key player, along with many others, in the development of calculus. Although he is rarely cited with its development, much of his work laid important groundwork for those that perfected that branch of math. Along with a huge influence on number theory, Euler is probably most famous for his development of the field of graph theory by solving one of the most famous problems in the history of mathematics called "The Seven Bridges of Konigsberg." These discoveries are limited to his most famous and lasting discoveries, and listing all of Euler's contribution to mathematics would require writing a book. Euler was one of the most published and most prolific mathematicians of all time. He published over 500 books and papers during his lifetime and another 400+ after his death. It is estimated that during his life he wrote and published about 800 pages a year!

Work Outside of Mathematics
Euler taught Physics as well as math courses while working at the Russian Academy. He also worked quite a bit in engineering and mechanics. He studied astronomy and made a number of advancements in accurately predicting orbits of comets and other orbiting bodies. During his second stint in Russia he worked in a major cartography project in which he produced the Russian Atlas.

Other Important Information
During his career, Euler lost all sight in his right eye, and colleagues of his in Berlin often referred to him as cyclops. Years later he developed a cataract in his left eye and was left almost totally blind. Even with his deteriorating eyesight, his productivity actually increased. He was said to have a photographic memory and worked through the help of scribes to keep publishing works.

Fun Facts
His wife died when he was 66 years old, and three years later, at age 69, he married his dead wife's half-sister. They remained married for 7 years until he died in 1783. Legend has it that when he lost the sight in his right eye Euler said, "Now I will have less distraction." He believed the Earth was hollow with a sun in the center and this could be reached through holes in the north and south poles.

Pictures


=Resources= Leonhard Euler. (n.d.). In //Wikipedia//. Retrieved December 9, 2010, from @http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euler Leonhard Euler. (November, 2010). In //MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive//. Retrieved December 9, 2010 from @http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Euler.html