Mathematician Sophie Germain
She Laid the Foundation for the Construction of Skyscrapers
Sophie Germain was born in 1776 - the year of the American Revolutionary war. The French Revolution occurred only thirteen years later in Germain’s homeland. To protect their youngest daughter from the ravages of war, her parents forbade her to leave the house. This left the young Germain with much time on her hands. So she began reading books from her father’s extensive library.
A story she read about Archimedes at Syracuse lit a fire under the young prodigy. Archimedes, in his late seventies, was studying a geometric figure in the sand. The Roman army was invading at the time and a Roman solider happened across Archimedes as he was studying this symbol. When Archimedes failed to respond to the soldier’s questions, the soldier killed him.
This story so impressed Germain - that someone would be so consumed by a mathematical problem as to lose their life while studying it - that she concluded mathematics was a subject she, too, would like to be captivated by.
Teaching Herself Mathematics
She taught herself geometry, mathematics, and calculus, then went on to teach herself Latin and Greek to enable herself to read classical mathematics texts. During this time, young women were not taught mathematics, especially those considered “middle class.” Although her father was a successful merchant and later a director at the Bank of France, they were far from being considered “aristocracy.” Even aristocratic young women were taught only the vague basics of mathematics in order to engage in polite social conversation should the topic arise.
Germain’s parents discouraged her from her studies. They took away her candles and denied her heat to inhibit her night studying. They even took away her clothing but she simply wrapped herself in blankets and quilts and used candles she had smuggled into her room. Her perseverance and determination proved to her parents that they could not dissuade the young scholar from learning, regardless of how “unfeminine” the pursuits of her study may be considered.
Attending the Ecole Polytechnique
The Ecole Polytechnique opened in 1794 in Paris. Though this academy to train mathematicians and scientists would have been an ideal setting for Germain to continue her studies, she was discouraged from applying on the mere prejudice of her gender. The Ecole Polytechnique only allowed men to study within its walls.
Like most women, Germain found a way around this challenge. She assumed the identity - in name only - of a former student, Monsieur Atoine-August Le Blanc. The school was not aware that Monsier Le Blanc no longer resided in Paris. So they continued providing lecture notes and problems for Le Blanc which would end up in the hands of Germain. Germain then answered the problems on a weekly basis using the name of Le Blanc.
Joseph-Louis Lagrange was the supervisor of the course from which Germain was getting her lecture notes and problems. He noticed a marked improvement in the work of Monsieur Le Blanc who, at best, had been a mediocre student in the beginning of the course. He insisted upon a meeting with Le Blanc, only to discover Germain’s true identity. He was pleasantly surprised to meet the young woman and became her mentor and friend.
A Breakthrough in Fermat’s Last Theorem
Carl Friedrich Gauss is considered one of the most brilliant mathematicians who ever lived. Germain began a correspondence with Gauss when she tackled Fermat’s Last Theorem.
Pierre de Fermat, a 17th century mathematician, set forth a challenge to future mathematicians: prove there are no whole number solutions for a particular set of equations. Fermat claimed he had a proof but never wrote that proof down. It wasn’t until the 20th century that proof was discovered.
But Germain had made a breakthrough. And she consulted with Gauss still using the name M. Le Blanc. Germain’s calculations for Fermat’s Last Theorem would have been accredited to M. Le Blanc had it not been for Napoleon. Even as Napoleon’s army stormed through German cities, Germain got a message to her friend, General Joseph-Marie Pernety, asking him to ensure Gauss’ safety. When Pernety explained to Gauss that he owed his life to Sophie Germain, Gauss had no idea who she was.
Much to Germain’s surprise, Gauss was delighted to discover the mathematician who had made a breakthrough in Fermat’s Last Theorem was a woman.
Germain received a medal from the Institut de France for her work on Fermat’s Last Theorem. She became the first woman who was not the wife of a member to attend lectures at the Academy of Sciences.
Explaining Vibration Theory
Although she did no further work on Fermat’s Last Theorem, Germain began a notable career as a physicist. German physicist Ernst Chladni had conducted studies on the vibration of elastic surfaces. The French Academy of Sciences held a contest for anyone who could explain the underlying mathematical law of these studies. A two year deadline was set and in 1811, Germain submitted the contest’s only entry anonymously.
Unfortunately, there were some errors in her first attempt. The contest deadline was extended for another two years and Germain and Lagrange worked on the necessary corrections. When Germain entered the second time, she was awarded an Honorable Mention.
Germain entered the contest for a third time and her paper “Memoir on Vibrations of Elastic Plates” won. There were still shortcomings in her explanation and these would not be corrected for a few decades, but Germain’s work laid the foundation for building skyscrapers to withstand damage from vibrations.
In her later life, Germain re-established her connection with Gauss. Gauss convinced the University of Gottengen to give Germain an honorary degree. Germain died on June 27, 1831 from breast cancer and did not live to receive the degree.
The L’Ecole Sophie Germain school in Paris is named for her as is a street la rue Germain.
Sources:
Agnes Scott College, Biographies of Women Mathematicians
Sophie Germain
|
What do you think about this article?
More in History
Latest Articles