National Mathematics Day 2024: Date, history, significance of the day and interesting facts about Srinivasa Ramanujan

india celebrates National Mathematics Day 22 December is the birth anniversary of the great mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. Launched in 2012 by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the day honors Ramanujan’s remarkable contributions to mathematics.

Beyond Ramanujan, National Mathematics Day recognizes the important role of mathematics in our everyday lives. Math is essential for everything, from simple tasks like calculating grocery bills to complex scientific challenges. This day reminds us how mathematics helps solve real-world problems, advance technology and contribute to global progress.

Following are some interesting facts about the life and career of Srinivasa Ramanujan:

1. Srinivasa Ramanujan was born on December 22, 1887 in Erode, Tamil Nadu, into a Brahmin Iyengar family. He became interested in mathematics at an early age and by the age of 12 he had mastered trigonometry. After this he became eligible for a scholarship to the Government Arts College, Kumbakonam.
2. Ramanujan studied at the Government College, Kumbakonam, where he failed the examinations due to his dislike of non-mathematical subjects.
3. He started as a clerk at the Madras Port Trust in 1912, where his mathematical talents attracted the attention of colleagues. One sent him to Professor GH Hardy at Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1913 he met Hardy and they went to college.
4. Ramanujan received a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in 1916. With Hardy’s help he published several papers on his subject. The two also collaborated on several joint projects.
5. In 1917, Ramanujan was elected to the London Mathematical Society. The following year, he was elected to the prestigious Royal Society for his work on elliptic functions and number theory. He also created history as the first Indian to become a Fellow of Trinity College.
6. Ramanujan returned to India in 1919 and breathed his last on 26 April the following year due to failing health. He was only 32 years old.
7. An anecdote from Robert Kanigel’s biography ‘The Man Who Knew Infinity’ throws light on Ramanujan’s genius. Hardy traveled by taxi number 1729 to meet the ill Ramanujan. During their conversation, Hardy mentioned that this seemed to be a fairly common number. Ramanujan pointed out that this is the smallest number that can be expressed in two different ways as the sum of two cubes (1729=1^3+12^3=9^3+10^3). Although it may not be his greatest contribution, it is certainly one of the most memorable.