¶ … theory on plate tectonics, the theory of Motion of heavenly bodies and several other theories that were developed during his lifetime. Mathematicians Life and Works: Karl Gauss

There are many well-known mathematicians from history whose work is well-known and position widely recognised. However, there are also many lesser known mathematicians that have also made equally valuable contributions. Karl Friedrich Gauss is one of these, and as such is a worthwhile individual to study. Gauss developed many ideas and theories which are still in use today.

He is best known for his theory of plate tectonics and his work entitled "Theoria Motus Corporum Coelestium"; Theory of the Motion of Heavenly Bodies in 1809. With Wilhelm E. Weber; a physicist he also developed a theory concerning geomagnetism. Much of his work is still used today, including work in the fields of physics, astronomy, and his statistical theories are even used in software algorithms. In this we see man who has made large contributions to the world of mathematics and related disciplines (Schaaf, 1964).

If we look Karl Friedrich Gauss he was born in Brunswick, Germany in 1777 and died in 1855. His background was not one pf privilege, but his talent for mathematics was seen at a young age. In one story it is reported that mathematics and logic were displayed at an early age when if was asked to add up all the numbers from one to one hundred. Logically, he deduced that the order of the addition did not matter, as this would give the same results, and that it would be easier to do 1+99 and the 2 +98 and so on (Schaaf, 1964). This reduced the equation to (49x100) +50 +100. This resulted...

It is also interesting to note that there were many other discoveries at this time, only discovered when his diaries were read. In 1792 Gauss entered Brunswick Collegium Carolinum, paid for with a stipend form the Duke of Brunswick- Wolfenbuotel, who had noticed his genius (Schaaf, 1964). The Duke was also to become a friend as well as benefactor.
When Gauss left the collage in 1795 he went to study at the Gotingen University. Where he learnt under Kaestner and made the acquaintance of Farkas Bolyai. He left in 1798, and although he had already made a major discovery; the make up of a regular 17-gon by ruler and compasses, a discovery that is not seen as amazing, and one of the most advanced discoveries since the Ancient Greeks (Rassias, 1991, Schaaf, 1964).

With a return to Brunswick in 1799 Gauss was to get his degree, but this was a doctorate, with the aid of the Duke, he submitted a dissertation to Pfaff at the University of Helmstedt. It was also around this time that Gauss was to become interested in astronomy (Schaaf, 1964).

His personal life was happy, and then in 1805 it became better, when he married Johanna Ostoff. In 1807 the Duke was killed fighting the Prussians, as a result he had to find a job. He obtained the position of director of the Gotingen observatory. This must have been a likable job as he was to…