Who was Leonhard Euler? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Died At Age: 76

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Katharina Gsell (m. 1734–1773), Salome Abigail Gsell (m. 1776–1783)

father: Paul Euler

mother: Marguerite Brucker

children: Christof Euler, Johann Euler

Born Country: Switzerland

Physicists Mathematicians

Died on: September 18, 1783

place of death: Saint Petersburg

City: Basel, Switzerland

Diseases & Disabilities: Visual Impairment

More Facts

education: University of Basel

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1

What were Leonhard Euler's most significant mathematical contributions?

Leonhard Euler made major contributions to various fields of mathematics, including calculus, number theory, graph theory, and mechanics. Some of his most notable works include Euler's formula, Euler's method, Euler's identity, and the development of the theory of functions.
2

How did Leonhard Euler contribute to the field of number theory?

Euler made significant contributions to number theory by solving various mathematical problems related to prime numbers, continued fractions, and Diophantine equations. He also worked on the generalization of Fermat's Little Theorem and the study of perfect numbers.
3

What is Euler's formula, and why is it important?

Euler's formula, e^(iπ) + 1 = 0, is a fundamental result in mathematics that relates five major mathematical constants: e, π, i, 1, and 0. This formula is important because it elegantly connects different branches of mathematics, such as algebra, trigonometry, and complex analysis.
4

How did Leonhard Euler contribute to the development of graph theory?

Euler is credited with creating the field of graph theory through his solution to the Seven Bridges of Königsberg problem. His work on this problem led to the concepts of Eulerian paths and Eulerian circuits, which laid the foundation for modern graph theory.
5

What is Euler's identity, and why is it considered one of the most beautiful equations in mathematics?

Euler's identity, e^(iπ) + 1 = 0, is often regarded as one of the most beautiful equations in mathematics due to its elegant simplicity and deep mathematical significance. It combines five fundamental constants in a single equation, showcasing the interconnectedness of different mathematical concepts.

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Childhood & Early Life

Leonhard Euler was born on 15 April 1707, in Basel, Switzerland, to Paul Euler and Marguerite Brucker in Basel. His father was a pastor of the Reformed Church while his mother was the daughter of a pastor, thus Euler was raised in a religious environment. He had two sisters.

His father taught the little boy mathematics, kindling in him a life long love for the subject. Leonhard’s father was friends with Johann Bernoulli, a prominent mathematician who would greatly influence the young boy.

He joined the University of Basel from where he received his Master of Philosophy in 1723. His father wanted him to become a pastor and thus Leonhard Euler began studying theology, Greek and Hebrew. But, he soon realized that theology did not interest him and that he wanted to pursue mathematics.

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Career

Leonhard Euler moved to Russia and served as a medical lieutenant in the Russian navy from 1727 to 1730. The son of Johann Bernoulli, Daniel, lived in Russia with whom Euler stayed.

He became professor of physics at the St Petersburg Academy of Sciences in 1730. Daniel, who held the senior chair at the mathematics department, left the job and Euler was appointed to this post in 1733.

He was a prolific author and had written numerous articles and textbooks. His textbook ‘Mechanica’ was published in 1736–37 in which he presented Newtonian dynamics in the form of mathematical analysis.

Another textbook, ‘Introductio in analysin infinitorum’ was out in 1748 in which he developed the concept of function in mathematical analysis. His works were of great significance to the field of modern analytic geometry and trigonometry.

In addition to mathematics he was also interested in astronomy and worked on developing a theory of lunar motion which involved the interactions of Sun, Moon, and Earth. He could only devise a partial solution which was published in 1753.

He wrote a textbook in calculus, ‘Institutiones calculi differentialis’ in 1755 and another one, ‘Institutiones calculi integralis’ during the period 1768–70. These works served as the foundation for modern calculus as they contained formulas for integration and differentiation.

He explained the basic principles of mechanics, optics, acoustics, and astronomy in his ‘Lettres à une princesse d’Allemagne’ which was published from 1768 to 1772.

He proved Newton’s identities, and also several of the theories propounded by the mathematician, Fermat, including Fermat's little theorem and Fermat's theorem on sums of two squares.

He worked on Fermat’s little theorem and using his own findings and the functions he had developed, he gave the Euler’s theorem, which is in effect a generalized version of Fermat’s little theorem.

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His works played a key role in the development of the Euler-Bernoulli beam equation which is today considered a cornerstone of engineering. He was also very popular for using his scientific findings to solve real-world problems.

He introduced several notational conventions in mathematics through his numerous articles and textbooks. Most importantly he gave the concept of a function and was the first to write f(x).

The introduction of modern notation for the trigonometric function is also credited to him as is the letter ‘e’ for the base of the natural logarithm.

Major Works

Euler is counted among the greatest mathematicians to have ever walked this earth. He had made tremendous contributions to the field of mathematics and is the only mathematician to have had two numbers named after him: Euler's Number in calculus, e, approximately equal to 2.71828, and the Euler–Mascheroni constant γ (gamma), approximately equal to 0.57721.

He helped develop the Euler–Bernoulli beam equation, which has widespread application in Civil and Mechanical Engineering.

Euler introduced several notational conventions. He was the first to write f(x) to denote the function, the Greek letter Σ for summations, and the letter 'e' for the base of the natural logarithm.

Awards & Achievements

He first entered the Paris Academy Prize Problem competition in 1727, and won the second prize. He participated in this competition several more times and won the prize twelve times in his lifetime.

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Personal Life & Legacy

Leonhard Euler married Katharina Gsell, the daughter of a painter in 1734. The couple had 13 children though only five survived their infancy.

He suffered a near-fatal fever in 1735 which caused severe deterioration in his eyesight; he almost went blind in one eye. Over the years his vision worsened and he spent his last years in total blindness.

He died on 18 September 1783, at the age of 76, in St. Petersburg.

Facts About Leonhard Euler

Euler was known for his exceptional memory and mental calculation skills.

He could recite lengthy passages from texts and perform complex mathematical calculations in his head.

Despite losing sight in one eye, Euler continued to work and make significant contributions to mathematics and physics.

He adapted by using a special type of abacus to assist him in his calculations.

His work covered a wide range of topics, from number theory to fluid dynamics.

He maintained close relationships with his children and grandchildren, often dedicating his works to them.

In addition to his mathematical prowess, Euler was also a talented musician and played the flute and the violin.

He found inspiration in music and believed it enhanced his mathematical abilities.

Leonhard Euler Biography

You wanted to know

What were Leonhard Euler's most significant mathematical contributions?

How did Leonhard Euler contribute to the field of number theory?

What is Euler's formula, and why is it important?

How did Leonhard Euler contribute to the development of graph theory?

What is Euler's identity, and why is it considered one of the most beautiful equations in mathematics?