Carl Friedrich Gauss

Carl Friedrich Gauss, born in 1777, was a German mathematician widely recognized as one of the greatest mathematicians in history. He made significant contributions to various fields of mathematics, including number theory, geometry, and probability theory.

Mathematician

April 30, 1777

Taurus

February 23, 1855

77

Braunschweig, Holy Roman Empire

Carl Friedrich Gauss, born on April 30, 1777, in Brunswick, Germany, was a distinguished mathematician, physicist, and astronomer. He is regarded as one of the most exceptional mathematicians in history due to his significant contributions to various fields, such as number theory, algebra, statistics, geometry, probability theory, geodesy, and planetary astronomy. Among his notable works are “Disquisitiones Arithmeticae,” “Theoria Motus Corporum,” and “Theory of the Combination of Observations Least Subject to Error.”

Gauss developed the Gaussian function, discovered the fundamental theorem of algebra, and made substantial contributions to physics by inventing the heliotrope. He also contributed to astronomy by calculating asteroid orbits. Gauss’s exceptional mathematical abilities were evident from a young age, as he corrected a mistake in his father’s accounting at just three years old. In 1807, he became the director of the Göttingen Observatory and published treatises on the motion of celestial bodies in 1809.

Possessing a photographic memory, Gauss could mentally calculate complex mathematical problems with remarkable speed and accuracy. His mathematical prowess and influential contributions have solidified his status as one of the greatest mathematicians in history.