Gauss's Achievement

Published on: 6:55 PM 0

His Written Work:

Magnetischer Verein Journal- a newspaper informing the public about magnetic currents

Magnetischer Verein Atlas- a mapping of earth’s magnetic currents

Intensitas vis Magneticae Terrestris ad Mensuram Absolutam Revocata- paper surrounding the definition of terrestrial magnetism

Allgemeine Theorie des Erdmagnetismus- paper about the measuring schemes for magnetic force

Allgemeine Lehrsätze in Beziehung auf die im Verkehrten Verhältnisse des Quadrats der Entfernung wirkenden Anziehungs- und Abstossungskräfte- paper about advanced measuring schemes for magnetic force

Disquisitiones Generales Circa Superficies Curva- paper discussing different dimensional planes and linear algebra

Untersuchungen Über Gegenstände der Höheren Geodäsie- book surrounding overall magnetism

Theoria Attractionis- book surrounding specific aspects of magnetism

Disquisitiones Generales Circa Seriem Infinitam- paper that focuses on hyper geometric functions

Methodus Nova Integralium Valores per Approximationem Inveniendi- paper explaining approximate integration

Theoria Attractionis Corporum Sphaeroidicorum Ellipticorum Homogeneorum Methodus Nova Tractata- book discussing potential theory

Theoria Motus Corporum Coelestium in Sectionibus Solem Ambientium- a chaptered book describing differential equations, conic sections, elliptic orbits and teaching how to refine the estimation on a planet's orbit

Disquisitiones Arithmeticae- a piece proving and disproving geometrical factors

Inventions/Proofs:

Telegraphic Device- a machine that could broadcast signals up to 5,000 feet in distance

Hanover Geodesic Survey- mapping of the geographical state of Hanover, Germany

Discovery of Kirchhoff's laws (law about electric circuits and voltage usage)

Assistance in the European Geodesic Grid- mapping of the geographical state of Europe

Heliotrope- device that uses mirrors and a telescope to redirect the sun’s rays to pinpoint chosen locations

Found Proof That a Non-Euclidean Geometry Can Exist

Gottingen University Observatory- built this famous observatory in Gottingen, Germany

 Construction Of a Regular 17-gon- drawing a regular 17-gon using simply a compass and a ruler

Improvements and Re-Discoveries:

Re-discovery of Bode's Law (an empirical rule given the estimated distance from a planet to the sun)

Re-discovery of the binomial theorem

Re-discovery of the arithmetic-geometric mean

Re-discovery of the quadratic reciprocity

Re-discovery of the prime number theorem

Improvement of the Least Squares Approximation Method (to predict a planet’s orbit)

Polished the fundamental theorem of algebra.

His fields:

Classical Languages

Economics

Business Informatics

World History

Geometry

Algebra

Geodesy

Astronomy

Geography

Civil Engineering

Architecture  

His Major Awards:

Copley Medal

Golden Jubilee Award

Copenhagen University Award 

Carl Friedrich Gauss Prize (an award named after him)  

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1855

Published on: 9:45 PM 0

1855

From 1850 onwards Gauss's work was again nearly all of practical nature, meaning that he was only using or improving all theories he had previously. His last known scientific exchange was with Gerling. He was also able to attend the opening of the new railway link between Hanover and Göttingen, but this proved to be his last public appearance. His health deteriorated as age eventually arrived. Gauss died peacefully in his sleep early in the morning of 23 February 1855. The prince had finally concluded his goal; he made his kingdom (mathematics) flourish. 

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1849

Published on: 9:44 PM 0

1849

Gauss presented his award winning golden jubilee lecture in 1849, fifty years after his diploma had been granted by Helmstedt University. It was a smoother and alternative variation of his dissertation that he established in 1799. From the mathematical community only Jacobi and Dirichlet were present during his lecture, but Gauss received many messages mentioning his honours from famous mathematicians.

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1845

Published on: 9:42 PM 0

1845

Gauss spent 11 years managing and keeping the Göttingen University “tidy”. This work gave him real effective experience in economics and he began to make a living out of scrawny investments and bonds issued by private companies. He also gave some classes to the university’s students. Gauss’s last doctoral student was called Dedekind. Dedekind wrote a fine description of his supervisor, giving a real inside on how Gauss expressed himself and his ideas to others.

“... usually he sat in a comfortable attitude, looking down, slightly stooped, with hands folded above his lap. He spoke quite freely, very clearly, simply and plainly: but when he wanted to emphasize a new viewpoint ... then he lifted his head, turned to one of those sitting next to him, and gazed at him with his beautiful, penetrating blue eyes during the emphatic speech. ... If he proceeded from an explanation of principles to the development of mathematical formulas, then he got up, and in a stately very upright posture he wrote on a blackboard beside him in his peculiarly beautiful handwriting: he always succeeded through economy and deliberate arrangement in making do with a rather small space. For numerical examples, on whose careful completion he placed special value, he brought along the requisite data on little slips of paper.”

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1837

Published on: 9:40 PM 0

1837

Weber was forced to leave Göttingen due a political conflict he participated in. Once he left, Gauss’s work was completely damaged. From here on forward Gauss’s productivity seemed to simply be replaced by his tiredness.  He still produced letters though, in response to fellow scientists' discoveries usually remarking that he had known the methods for years but had never felt the need to publish; limp attempts to regain his former glory. Gauss the great mathematician became something less and started suffering from the age trying to catch up to him. He even saw joy in other scientist’s discovery like those of Eisenstein and Lobachevsky.

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