Реферат: Johann (III) Bernoulli

Born: 4 Nov 1744 in Basel, Switzerland

Died: 13 July 1807 in Berlin, Germany

Johann(III) Bernoulli was a son of  Johann(II) Bernoulli. He wascertainly considered a prodigy when a child with an encyclopedic knowledge and,like many other members of his extraordinarily talented family, he studied lawand took an interest in mathematics.

At the early age of fourteen he graduated with the degree ofmaster of law. He was appointed to a chair at Berlin Academy at the age of only19. Frederick II asked him to revive the astronomical observatory of theAcademy but this was not a task for which Johann(III) was particularly wellsuited. His health had never been particularly good and his qualities as anastronomical observer were relatively poor.

Johann(III) Bernoulli wrote a number of works on astronomy,reporting on astronomical observations and calculations, but these are oflittle importance. Strangely his most important contributions were the accountsof his travels in Germany which were to have a historical impact.

In the field of mathematics he worked on  probability, recurringdecimals and the theory of equations. As in his astronomical work there waslittle of lasting importance. He did, however, publish the Leipzig Journal forPure and Applied Mathematics between 1776 and 1789.

He was well aware of the famous mathematical line from which hewas descended and he looked after the wealth of mathematical writings that hadpassed between members of the family. He sold the letters to the StockholmAcademy where they remained forgotten about until 1877. At that time when thesetreasures were examined, 2800 letters written by Johann(III) Bernoulli himselfwere found in the collection.

J J O'Connor and E F Robertson

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