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rom poverty in India to a Cambridge legend: How Ramanujan rewrote the history of mathematic
In early 20th century India, the journey of mathematics was full of challenges and opportunities. Srinivasa Ramanujan is an outstanding representative of them. With his extraordinary talent and indomitable spirit, he emerged from a poor environment and eventually reached Cambridge University, becoming a great figure in mathematics. A legendary figure.
Ramanujan's intuition in mathematics went beyond many published theories at the time, and his inspiration came from simple observations in life, which did not require complex background knowledge.
Ramanujan's story is a typical example of "suffering and success", reflecting the perfect combination of art and science. He grew up in poverty in Madras, India, but was able to constantly discover new theories in mathematics, a field he loved, and try to share them with the world.
Initially, Ramanujan's employers began to notice his mathematical talent, and when they gave him some simple accounting tasks, they found that he was able to complete them with extreme efficiency. It is recorded that he was soon encouraged to write to G. H. Hardy, a prominent Cambridge professor at the time. This letter opened the door for him to the international mathematics community.
Hardy's respect for Ramanujan's talent and mathematical ability led him to invite Ramanujan directly to Cambridge.
However, when Ramanujan arrived in Cambridge, he faced unprecedented challenges. In addition to adapting to the new living environment and language and culture, he also needs to face the prejudice from others. In this society where racial discrimination was relatively severe, Ramanujan's skills were not immediately accepted.
Hardy noted Ramanujan's talent, but he was also well aware of the difficulties Ramanujan had in presenting his mathematical results and in the way he wrote about them. Nevertheless, the partnership between the two mathematicians gradually deepened, and Hardy continued to support Ramanujan, even fighting against academic convention to gain his formal recognition at Cambridge.
Accessible mathematical theories allow viewers to understand Ramanujan's contributions and why he is still regarded as an important figure in mathematics.
During this process, Ramanujan's health deteriorated rapidly. He was diagnosed with tuberculosis and gradually lost contact with his hometown. During this period, Ramanujan's wife Janaki discovered that her letters had never reached her husband. It turned out that his mother had cut off their contact. Even so, Ramanujan continued to delve deeper into mathematical research and, under Hardy's guidance, gradually published his theories publicly.
Eventually, with Hardy's help, Ramanujan received special honors from Cambridge University and became a widely respected mathematician. His achievement is not only the realization of his personal dream, but also a great contribution to the development of mathematics. Although his health deteriorated and he died soon after, his mathematical achievements continue to influence later generations.
Ramanujan's story tells us that the combination of hard work and intelligence can transcend the shackles of fate and form a great power.
The film "The Man Who Knew Infinity" is not only a biography, but also a tribute to Ramanujan and his achievements, allowing the audience to have a deeper understanding of the mathematical thinking and life of this genius. experience. Mathematics is no longer a cold formula, but a story flowing with humanity and emotion.
Can we learn from Ramanujan's story the courage to pursue our dreams and challenge the shackles of misfortune and difficulties?
