Carl Friedrich Gauss :: essays research papers

Carl Friedrich GaussCarl Friedrich Gauss was a German mathematician and scientist whodominated the numeric community during and after his lifetime. Hisoutstanding reverse includes the discovery of the method of least squares, thediscovery of non-Euclidean geometry, and important contributions to the theoryof come ins.innate(p) in Brunswick, Germany, on April 30, 1777, Johann Friedrich CarlGauss showed early and unmistakable signs of being an extraordinary youth. As achild prodigy, he was self taught in the field of operations of teaching and arithmetic.Recognizing his talent, his youthful studies were accelerated by the Duke ofBrunswick in 1792 when he was provided with a honorarium to allow him to pursue hiseducation.In 1795, he continued his mathematical studies at the University of Gttingen. In 1799, he obtained his doctorate in absentia from the University ofHelmstedt, for providing the first sanely complete proof of what is nowcalled the fundamental theorem of algebra. H e stated that whatsoever polynomial withreal coefficients can be factored into the product of real elongated and/or realquadratic factors.At the age of 24, he make Disquisitiones arithmeticae, in which heformulated systematic and widely influential concepts and methods of betheory -- dealing with the relationships and properties of integers. This bookset the pattern for many upcoming research and won Gauss major recognition amongmathematicians. Using number theory, Gauss proposed an algebraical solution to thegeometric problem of creating a polygon of n sides. Gauss prove the possibilityby constructing a regular 17 sided polygon into a circle using only a straightedge and compass. except 30 years old, already having made landmark discoveries ingeometry, algebra, and number theory Gauss was appointed director of theObservatory at Gttingen. In 1801, Gauss turned his attention to astronomy andapplied his computational skills to develop a technique for calculating orbitalcomponent s for celestial bodies, including the asteroid Ceres. His methods,which he describes in his book Theoria Motus Corporum Coelestium, are still inuse today. Although Gauss made semiprecious contributions to both a priori andpractical astronomy, his principle work was in mathematics, and mathematicalphysics.About 1820 Gauss turned his attention to geodesy -- the mathematicaldetermination of the shape and size of the Earths surface -- to which hedevoted much time in the theoretical studies and field work. In his research, hedeveloped the heliotrope to secure more than accurate measurements, and introducedthe Gaussian error curve, or bell curve. To fulfill his guts of civilresponsibility, Gauss undertook a geodetic survey of his country and did much ofthe field work himself. In his theoretical work on surveying, Gauss developed