Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777–1855) “Prince of Mathematicians”

Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777–1855), a child prodigy, discovered astounding theories in mathematics, physics, astronomy, and engineering. After over 200 years, they continue to shape modern science and technology, affecting our day-to-day lives. 

By legend, his teacher asked the class to add the numbers from 1 to 100. Most students began adding them one by one, but Gauss realized that if he paired numbers from opposite ends (1 + 100, 2 + 99, etc.), the answer was always 101, and there were 50 pairs.

At 21, Gauss completed his landmark textbook on number theory, “Disquisitiones Arithmeticae” (Latin for “Arithmetical Investigations”), in 1798. He published it three years later. In it, he established number theory as a modern, systematic field. The full impact of what he discovered as a teenager unfolded over decades as other mathematicians built on his work.

Gaussian integers (named after Gauss) are numbers that include both real and imaginary parts, but must be integers. They have applications in cryptography, digital signal processing, computer graphics, game theory, and puzzles. 

Gaussian elimination is a method for solving systems of linear equations. Engineers, computer scientists, data scientists, physicists, and economists use this method. The Gaussian distribution is a cornerstone of probability and statistics, used in data fitting and regression analysis. 

In 1801, when Gauss accurately predicted the orbit of the asteroid Ceres using mathematical methods, he showed how pure mathematics could solve real-world problems in astronomy.

In physics, he made significant contributions to the understanding of electromagnetism and potential theory. The latter deals with how forces acting at a distance behave in space.

Carl Friedrich Gauss’s contributions have proven essential to modern cryptography and cybersecurity, data science and AI, physics and engineering, GPS and earth measurement, astronomy and space exploration.