Who is the father of mathematics?

Much of the modern world cannot be imagined without mathematics. It is considered to be the foundation of the universe. Mathematics is one of the most age-old sciences above all other ones. It is a core of all other sciences, which all together improve the modern world of technologies and facilitate people’s lives.

Biography of Archimedes

Archimedes (287 BC–212 BC) is known as Father of Mathematics. He was born in the seaport city of Syracuse on the greek island of Sicily; his father was an astronomer. He was fortunate enough to be born into a family who encouraged him to get an education. Archimedes since childhood showed interest in mathematics, science, poetry, politics etc. He was accepted into the School of Mathematics (located in Egypt).

Legacy of Archimedes 

Archimedes is regarded as one of the leading scientists in classical antiquity. Generally deemed the most renowned mathematician of all time. Archimedes proposed a number system which uses powers of a myriad of myriads, and he also concluded that the number of sand grains required to fill the universe would be eight vigintillions, or 8×(10^63).

• Galileo praised Archimedes several times and referred to him as a ‘superhuman’.
• A crater on the Moon is named Archimedes in his honour.

A considerable part of Archimedes’ work in engineering stemmed from meeting the needs of his home city of Syracuse.

He also designed Syracusia the largest ship built in classical antiquity.

• He predicted modern calculus and analysis by applying concepts of infinitesimals and the method of exhaustion to conclude and rigorously prove a range of geometrical theorems.
• His other mathematical accomplishments include deriving an accurate approximation of pi.

Inventions

1. Archimedes’ Screw was a device with a revolving screw-shaped blade inside a cylinder. It was rotated by hand, to transfer water from a low-lying body of water into irrigation canals. The Archimedes’ Screw is still in use today for pumping liquids and granulated solids such as coal and grain.
2. The Claw of Archimedes was an ancient weapon devised by Archimedes to guard the seaward portion of Syracuse’s city wall against amphibious attack. When the claw was dumped onto an attacking ship, the arm would swing upwards, heaving the ship out of the water and possibly descending it into water.
3. The device, sometimes known as the “Archimedes heat ray,” was used to direct sunlight onto advancing ships, causing them to catch fire. In the modern era, similar devices have been created and may be related to as a solar furnace.