Leonhard Euler

Date of Birth: April 15, 1707

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: September 18, 1783

Biography

Leonhard Euler was a pioneering Swiss mathematician and physicist who made significant contributions to numerous fields, including calculus, graph theory, topology, and number theory. Born on April 15, 1707, in Basel, Switzerland, Euler showed early promise in mathematics and was mentored by the renowned mathematician Johann Bernoulli. Euler’s prolific output included over 850 publications, making him one of the most productive mathematicians in history. His work laid the foundation for many modern mathematical concepts and techniques, such as Euler’s formula in complex analysis and Euler’s identity, which is often cited as the most beautiful equation in mathematics. Despite losing sight in one eye in 1738 and eventually becoming completely blind in 1766, Euler continued to produce groundbreaking work until his death. He spent a significant portion of his career at the Imperial Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg and the Berlin Academy of Sciences. Euler was not only a mathematician but also a devoted family man and devout Christian. He maintained his mathematical productivity through dictation to his scribes and assistants, ensuring his legacy would endure beyond his lifetime.

5 Interesting Facts about Leonhard Euler

1. Leonhard Euler introduced the concept of a function and was the first to write f(x) to denote the function f applied to the argument x.

2. He made significant contributions to the understanding of infinite series, including the development of the Euler–Maclaurin formula.

3. Euler solved the famous Seven Bridges of Königsberg problem, laying the groundwork for graph theory.

4. Euler’s work in fluid dynamics, particularly his equations for inviscid flow, remains foundational in the field of fluid mechanics.

5. He was a prolific writer, and his collected works fill over 70 volumes, an immense amount for any mathematician.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Leonhard Euler

1. “Mathematics is the queen of sciences and arithmetic is the queen of mathematics.”

2. “To those who ask what use there is in studying these numbers, I answer that they help one become a better mathematician.”

3. “Nothing takes place in the world whose meaning is not that of some maximum or minimum.”

4. “The study of the beautiful in mathematics is much easier than the study of the beautiful in art.”

5. “I have always firmly maintained that the distinctions between the mathematical and the general sciences are more imaginary than real.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The concept of net worth as it is understood today did not exist during Euler’s lifetime. However, as a prominent member of the academic communities in St. Petersburg and Berlin, Euler would have been relatively well-compensated for his time.

Children

Leonhard Euler married Katharina Gsell in 1734, and they had 13 children together, although only five survived to adulthood. His children included Johann Albrecht Euler, who followed in his father’s footsteps and became a mathematician.