Michael Webster

Broschiertes Buch

Master of the Integers

S. S. Pillai

Beschreibung

In August 1950, while en route to a fellowship at Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study and the International Congress of Mathematicians, Indian mathematician S. S. Pillai died tragically in a plane crash near Cairo. The world lost a genius just as he was set to claim his place on the global stage. Born into hardship in the isolated princely state of Travancore, Pillai's life was a profound triumph of intellect over adversity. Relying on self-study and delayed foreign journals, he mastered the complex methods of analytic number theory, achieving breakthroughs that astonished the Western academic elite. Pillai's legacy is defined by two monumental contributions: the definitive resolution to a critical part of Waring's Problem and the formulation of the Pillai's Conjecture (a^x - b^y = c), a cornerstone challenge that continues to shape number theory research today. This comprehensive biography traces Pillai's extraordinary journey-from a brilliant student defying poverty to a pioneering professor who built a research culture in India. It is a meticulous, intimate account of a singular mind, exploring the powerful mathematics he created and the magnitude of the unfulfilled potential lost in the tragedy of his final journey. Approx.180 pages, 32500 word count

Autor

Born and raised in a small town on the east coast of Scotland, the author brings a unique and refreshing voice to his writing. A late-in-life diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome illuminated his lifelong journey, giving him a deeper understanding of the distinct way he sees the world. Describing himself as an optimist on a mission to entertain and inform, he aims to take the reader's imagination to its limits and deliver a truly unforgettable experience.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Michael Webster
• Seitenzahl: 180
• Erscheinungstermin: 22. November 2025
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 216mm x 140mm x 11mm
• Gewicht: 235g
• ISBN-13: 9798231183135
• Artikelnr.: 75970590