Every year, 22 December is observed as National Mathematics Day to mark the birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan, a renowned Indian mathematician. Mathematics Day is marked to celebrate his works and recognize him as a legend in mathematics.
National Mathematics Day is an occasion to remember Ramanujan’s great achievements and reflect on the significance of mathematics in our everyday lives. Read the article to know about the history and significance of this day.
Who was Srinivasa Ramanujan?
Srinivasa Ramanujan was born to a Tamil Brahmin family in 1887 at Erode in Tamil Nadu. Although he did not receive a formal education in mathematics, his contributions provided in-depth analyses to solve complex mathematical problems using new concepts and ideas. Ramanujan is fondly known as ‘the man who knew infinity.
He joined Trinity College and was elected as one of the members of the London Mathematical Society. Ramanujan was also nominated as the first Indian to be one of the fellow members of Trinity College Cambridge.
National Mathematics Day 2022: Importance
Marking the birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan, National Mathematics Day celebrates his golden achievements. He is regarded as one of the world’s greatest mathematicians on a national and global level. In 2012, the former prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh marked this day as the National Mathematics Day to honor the legendary Srinivasa Ramanujan.
Born in 1887 in Tamil Nadu, Ramanujan spent most of his life in poverty. He developed a keen interest in mathematics right from a young age. To sustain himself, he took the job of a clerk as an adult but continued his mathematical studies independently. Getting in touch with some renowned professors from international universities, Ramanujan eventually made his way to Trinity College.
Also see: Top 10 Indian Mathematicians & Their Inventions
National Maths Day – Significance
Mathematics Day is marked to raise awareness about the importance of mathematics. People celebrate this day to understand the importance of Maths in everyday life. The government takes several steps to teach and motivate the public and the country’s youth to develop a positive attitude toward mathematics. Free training is provided to various students and mathematics teachers through several camps organised by different authorities.
Ramanujan’s Contributions:
Here are some of the significant contributions made by Ramanujan:
- He made diverse contributions to the theory of numbers and mathematical functions.
- He conceived of divergent series, the Riemann series, the hypergeometric series, the elliptic integrals, and the functional equations of the zeta function.
- The number 1729 is known as the Hardy-Ramanujan number.
How is National Mathematics Day Celebrated in India?
In India, Mathematics Day holds great significance because on this day, the great Indian mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan was born. In his honor and remembrance, 22 December was named as National Maths Day. On this day, various schools, universities, colleges, and educational institutions in India host events, Olympiads, and quizzes related to maths.
On Maths Day, the speakers also talk about the contributions of Srinivasa Ramanujan to the world of mathematics at the national and global levels.
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FAQs
1. When is National Mathematics Day celebrated?
National Mathematics Day is celebrated on 22nd December every year to mark the birth anniversary of the great Indian mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan. This day was announced by the former Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, in 2012.
2. Whose birthday is celebrated as National Mathematics Day?
The birthday of Srinivasa Ramanujan is celebrated as National Mathematics Day. Ramanujan was born on 22nd December, and because of his great contribution to mathematics, this day is celebrated as Mathematics Day.
3. What is the National Mathematics Day 2022 theme?
There is no specific theme for National Mathematics Day 2022. The aim of this day is “to make people aware of the importance and significance of mathematics in today’s time.
4. When was the first National Mathematics Day observed in India?
The first National Mathematics Day was observed in India on 22 December 2012. The former Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh announced this day. Since then, it has been celebrated every year on 22nd December.
5. Who is the father of mathematics?
Archimedes is considered the Father of Mathematics for his significant contribution to the development of mathematics.
6. What is Hardy-Ramanujan number?
The Hardy-Ramanujan number, also known as the Ramanujan number, is a number that has a special significance in mathematics due to its unique properties. It is named after the mathematicians G. H. Hardy and Srinivasa Ramanujan, who were both influential figures in the field of mathematics.
The Hardy-Ramanujan number is the smallest number that can be expressed as the sum of two cubes in two different ways:
1729 = 1^3 + 12^3 = 10^3 + 9^3
