Ten fun facts about Srinivasa Ramanujan

1. 13-Year-Old Prodigy Srinivasa Ramanujan Is a Genius

At the tender age of 13, Srinivasa Ramanujan had already mastered a book on advanced trigonometry, demonstrating his remarkable mathematical prowess. His ability to comprehend complex mathematical concepts at such a young age was a testament to his genius, and would later lead him to become one of the most influential mathematicians of the 20th century.

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2. Ramanujan: Math Genius Who Chose His Own Path

Srinivasa Ramanujan was a renowned mathematician who, despite enrolling in Pachaiyappa's College in Madras, chose to leave without a degree in order to pursue his own research in mathematics. His passion for the subject was so strong that he was willing to forgo the traditional route of obtaining a degree in order to focus on his own independent research. His work was so impressive that he was eventually awarded a Bachelor of Science degree by the University of Madras, despite not having completed the course.

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3. A Mathematician Who Married a 10 Year Old

In 1909, Srinivasa Ramanujan married a 10 year old bride, and soon after developed an abnormal swelling in one of his testicles. Fortunately, a doctor volunteered to perform the necessary surgery free of charge, allowing Ramanujan to continue his work in mathematics without interruption. The surgery was successful, and Ramanujan went on to become one of the most influential mathematicians of the 20th century.

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4. Ramanujan: A Celebrated Mathematician

The life of Srinivasa Ramanujan has been immortalized in books, movies and plays. The book "The Man Who Knew Infinity" and the film "Ramanujan" are two of the most notable works that have been created in his honor. Both works explore the life and accomplishments of the Indian mathematician, who made significant contributions to the field of mathematics during his short lifetime. The book and film have been praised for their accurate portrayal of Ramanujan's life and his remarkable achievements.

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5. 1729: The Hardy-Ramanujan Number That Shocked G.H. Hardy

When renowned mathematician G.H. Hardy visited the ailing Srinivasa Ramanujan in the hospital, he was struck by the number 1729. This number had a special significance to Ramanujan, and Hardy was so impressed by it that he decided to name it the Hardy-Ramanujan number in honor of their encounter. This number has since become a famous part of mathematical history, and is still used in mathematical equations today.

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6. The notebooks of Srinivasa Ramanujan

In 1957, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research published the notebooks of Srinivasa Ramanujan, the renowned Indian mathematician. These notebooks contained the groundbreaking work of Ramanujan, which included theorems and equations that revolutionized the field of mathematics. His work has been studied and admired by mathematicians around the world, and his notebooks remain a valuable source of insight into the mind of one of the greatest mathematicians of all time.

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7. Professor Berndt Proves Nearly All Ramanujan Theorems Correct

For over four decades, Professor Bruce C. Berndt has been studying the theorems of the renowned mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. In a lecture in 2011, Professor Berndt admitted that nearly all of Ramanujan's theorems have been proven to be correct. This is a remarkable achievement, considering the sheer number of theorems that Ramanujan had formulated during his lifetime. Professor Berndt's research has been instrumental in verifying the accuracy of Ramanujan's work and has helped to further our understanding of mathematics.

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8. Ramanujan's Medical Records: Parasitic Infection Found

Srinivasa Ramanujan's medical records were recently analyzed, revealing that he had been suffering from a parasitic infection of the liver and dysentery. Unfortunately, these conditions had not been properly treated, leading to his untimely death. This discovery sheds new light on the life and death of the renowned mathematician, and further emphasizes the importance of proper medical care.

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9. Indian Mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan Elected to Royal Society

In 1918, the renowned mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan made history by becoming the second Indian to be elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, the world's oldest scientific academy in continuous existence. At the time, he was also the youngest person to ever receive this prestigious honor. His election to the Royal Society was a major milestone in the recognition of Indian scientists and mathematicians on the world stage.

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10. Ramanujan: Groundbreaking Math Researcher

In 1916, Srinivasa Ramanujan was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree for his research on highly composite numbers. This research was a major breakthrough in the field of mathematics, as it provided a new way of understanding the properties of numbers. Ramanujan's work on highly composite numbers was so impressive that it earned him the prestigious degree, and it has since been used as a foundation for further research in the field.

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