National Mathematics Day 2024: History, Significance of the Day and Interesting Facts About Srinivasa Ramanujan

National Mathematics Day: India celebrates National Mathematics Day on December 22 to mark the birth anniversary of legendary mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. Launched in 2012 by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the day honours Ramanujan’s remarkable contributions to mathematics.

Beyond Ramanujan, National Mathematics Day recognises the important role mathematics plays in our daily lives. Mathematics plays a crucial role in various aspects of life, from simple tasks like calculating of a grocery bill to complex scientific problems. The day reminds us how mathematics helps solve real-world problems, advances technology and contributes to global progress.

National Mathematics Day 2024; Here are Some Interesting Facts About the Life and Career of Mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan

Srinivasa Ramanujan was born on 22 December 1887 in Erode in Tamil Nadu, into a Brahmin Iyengar family. He developed an interest in mathematics at an early age and mastered trigonometry by the age of 12. This made him eligible for a scholarship to the Government Arts College in Kumbakonam. Ramanujan studied at the Government College in Kumbakonam, where he failed the examination due to his dislike for non-mathematical subjects.

He started as a clerk at the Madras Port Trust in 1912, where his mathematical talent caught the attention of colleagues. One individual recommended him to consult Professor GH Hardy at Trinity College, Cambridge. He met Hardy in 1913 and moved to the Trinity college. In 1916, Ramanujan awarded a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree. With Hardy’s help, he published numerous papers on his field of study. The two also engaged on various joint projects.

In year 1917, Srinivasa Ramanujan was elected as a member of the London Mathematical Society. The following year, he elected to the prestigious Royal Society for his work on elliptic functions and number theory. He also made history as the becoming first Indian a Fellow of Trinity College. Ramanujan returned to India in 1919 and passed away on April 26 the following year due to deteriorating health at the young age of 32 years.

An anecdote from the biography ‘The Man Who Knew Infinity’ by Robert Kanigel highlights Ramanujan’s genius. Hardy boarded a taxi bearing the number 1729 to visit an ailing Ramanujan. During the conversation, Hardy pointed out that it seemed like a very simple number. Ramanujan pointed out that it is the smallest number that can be expressed as the sum of two cubes in two different ways (1729=1^3+12^3=9^3+10^3). While this may not be his greatest contribution, it is certainly one of the most memorable.

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