National Mathematics Day 2021 is being observed across the country today, December 22, 2021, to honour the legacy of the renowned Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. Ramanujan’s life sometimes referred to as a child prodigy in the topic, has been a source of study and inspiration to many, giving him a position among the greatest brains of all time.
Srinivasa Ramanujan was born in Erode in 1887, during the British occupation of the nation. Ramanujan, sometimes known as the “man who understood infinite,” is said to have mastered trigonometry by the age of 13. The most awe-inspiring description of his school experiences as a young prodigy was that he failed in all subjects except Mathematics. Here are some intriguing facts about this child genius, as well as why this day is commemorated in his honour.
A mathematical savant with intuitive reasoning
Ramanujan was decades ahead of his time. The findings of intuitive mathematical brilliance altered the trajectory of various fields of mathematics. He is well known for his contributions to number theory and infinite series. Among these are intriguing formulae that may be used to calculate pi digits in unconventional ways.
Ramanujan’s narrative is spectacular and a little out of this world. Ramanujan was mostly self-taught; he dropped out of college in 1913 and worked as a clerk in Madras, where he gained the notice of British mathematician G. H. Hardy through written letters. In 1914, he crossed the Atlantic to collaborate with Hardy and other mathematicians at the University of Cambridge. Ramanujan’s mother never wanted her son to travel outside of the country. That didn’t stop him from exploring the infinite depths of mathematics.
National Mathematics Day 2021
In 2012, then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh designated the full year to be the National Mathematics Year, and this date is commemorated as National Mathematics Day in honour of Ramanujan’s 125th birth anniversary. The goal is to honour his efforts while also inspiring others to pursue in this sector. It even explains how mathematics is connected with our lives and how its study has helped mankind progress toward a better future.
The Legacy of Srinivasa Ramanujan – Interesting Facts
- Ramanujan was recognised as a child prodigy in Mathematics when he was 11 years old because he could answer college-level questions in Advanced Mathematics.
- S. Ramanujan obtained a scholarship at the Government Arts College in Kumbakonam but lost it after failing to meet the required passing standards.
- He is regarded as the first Indian to be chosen as a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.
- Namagiri Thayar, the family goddess, was attributed with Ramanujan’s understanding. “An equation has no relevance for me unless it represents an idea of God,” he is supposed to have declared.
- The Ramanujan number 1729, sometimes known as the magic number, is one of this legend’s most renowned contributions. It is the lowest integer represented as the sum of two separate sets of numbers’ cubes.
- Other significant contributions were made in the areas of mathematical analysis, number theory, infinite series, and continuing fractions.
- This genius’s work on Ramanujan prime, Ramanujan theta function, partition formulas, and mock theta functions is still regarded as valuable for new areas of research.
In recognition of Srinivasa Ramanujan’s significant achievements, National Mathematics Day 2021 is being observed in several schools and universities. For most of his life, he struggled with illness, and the world lost this talent in 1920. His work continues to pave the path for new things and has become part of popular culture.