Celebrating Maria Gaetana Agnesi - Mathematician & Philanthropist

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Maria Gaetana Agnesi, born on May 16, 1718, in Milan, is recognized as one of the first prominent female mathematicians in Western history. A prodigy, she was fluent in multiple languages by a young age and engaged in advanced philosophical discussions. At nine, she advocated for women's rights and education. Agnesi began writing a mathematics textbook in 1738, which evolved into "Analytical Institutions," published in 1748. This work included the equation for the bell-shaped curve known as the "Witch of Agnesi," a term stemming from a mistranslation. Her contributions earned her membership in the Bologna Academy of Sciences, although she later shifted her focus to charitable work. The discussion highlights her remarkable achievements and the intersection of mathematics and language, celebrating her legacy on her birthday.
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Thursday (May 16) was the birthday of one of the first well-known female mathematicians of the Western world. Maria Gaetana Agnesi was born in Milan (1718).

http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php?date=2013/05/16

Maria was a brilliant child. By age five, she spoke French as well as her native Italian. A few years later, she was fluent in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, and her family called her the "Walking Polyglot." At age nine, she addressed a group of academics in Latin on the subject of women's rights and access to education, and soon she was leading complex philosophical discussions between her father and his scholarly friends. She also began to pursue mathematics.
In 1738, Agnesi "began working on a math textbook that she could use to teach math to her siblings. But the book grew into more than just a teaching tool. In it she wrote an equation for a specific bell-shaped curve that is still used today and is known — because of mistranslation of the Italian by a British mathematician — as the "Witch of Agnesi." Analytical Institutions, which was published in 1748, was highly regarded in academic circles for synthesizing complex mathematical ideas with clarity and precision.

Analytical Institutions and the articulation of the Witch of Agnesi earned her a spot in the Bologna Academy of Sciences. But by that time, she had abandoned mathematics and devoted herself to charity work."

http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Biographies/Agnesi.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Gaetana_Agnesi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch_of_Agnesi


I wish that my earlier education in mathematics had included such information.
 
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The relationship between mathematics and languages is apparent! Happy belated birthday Maria Gaetana Agnesi!
 
Astronuc said:
Thursday (May 16) was the birthday of one of the first well-known female mathematicians of the Western world. Maria Gaetana Agnesi was born in Milan (1718).

Yesterday (May 16，Friday) was the birthday of Maria Gaetana Agnesi. Sincere blessing to Agnesi.
 

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