Women who made important marks in Mathematics

Marie-Sophie Germain (April 1, 1776 - June 27, 1831) was a French mathematician, physicist and philosopher. Although she was unable to officially pursue a career in mathematics because she was a woman, she still made great contributions to the field of world mathematics, providing a research foundation for later mathematicians.

Sophie Germain was born in Paris, during a period of political and social upheaval in France. Her family objected to her studies, which were considered unsuitable for women, so she studied mathematics on her own, reading books from her father's library and writing letters to famous mathematicians. She was forced to use the pseudonym "Monsieur Antoine-Auguste Le Blanc", the identity of a former student, to submit assignments and communicate with professors at the prestigious École Polytechnique at that time, as well as writing letters to mathematicians, including Carl Friedrich Gauss, one of the greatest mathematicians of all time.

Bust of Sophie Germain

One of Sophie's most important contributions was to the study of Fermat's Last Theorem. She developed a new approach, known as Germain's Theorem, which laid the foundation for later advances in proving Fermat's conjecture and inspired mathematicians to study the problem in the following centuries.

She also did research on number theory. She used a pseudonym to exchange and discuss letters with Carl Friedrich Gauss. After discovering her true identity, Gauss expressed his admiration for her intellect. Before his death, Gauss offered to give her an honorary degree, but it did not happen.

Sophie Germain's grave at Père Lachaise Cemetery in France

In addition to number theory, Sophie Germain made significant contributions to physics, especially in the study of elasticity. In 1811, she entered a competition organized by the Paris Academy of Sciences to develop a mathematical theory of elasticity. She was the only woman to enter the competition and, after several submissions, was awarded the prize in 1816.

Her work on elasticity provided fundamental insights that influenced later developments in engineering and materials science.

A stamp designed to honor mathematician Sophie Germain

Today, she is revered as a pioneer in mathematics, paving the way for generations of women to pursue STEM fields. The French Academy of Sciences established the Sophie Germain Prize to honor outstanding mathematical research. Her legacy is an inspiration to all those who face barriers in their pursuit of knowledge.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/nguoi-phu-nu-ghi-dau-an-quan-trong-trong-toan-hoc-20250404184948219.htm