P.C. Mahalanobis

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             P.C. Mahalanobis   A well-known Indian statistician and scientist, Mahalanobis is greatly popular for introducing new methods of sampling. His most significant contribution in the field of statistics was the 'Mahalanobis Distance'. Besides, he had also made pioneering studies in the field of anthropometry and had founded the Indian Statistical Institute.  Originally, the family of Mahalanobis belonged to Bikrampur, Bangladesh. As a child. Mahalanobis grew up in an environment surrounded by socially active refoemers and intellectuals. He had his initial education from Brahmo Boys School Calcutta. Further, he enrolled himself into Presidency College and got a BSc degree with specialisation in physics. In 1913, Mahalanobis left for England for ther stodies and came in contact with S. Ramanujan, the famous mathematician from India. After completion of his studies. he returned

Bhaskara II

                   Bhaskara II

Bhaskara II, also known as Bhaskaracharva, was born in 1114 CE near Vijjaydavida or present-day Bijapur in the state of Karnataka. Born to a family of scholars, he learnt mathematics from his astrologer father Mahesvara. A leading mathematician of twelth century, he wrote his first work on the systematic use of the decimal number system. He also headed the astronomical observatory at Ujjain, a leading mathematical centre of ancient India. 



His main work Siddhanta Shiromani, which has four parts, namely, Lilavati, Bijaganita, Grahaganita and Goladhaya deals with arithmetic, algebra, mathematics of the planets and spheres, respectively Bhaskara is particularly known for the discovery of the principles of differential calculus and its application to astronomical problems and computations. While Newton and Leibniz have been credited with differential and integral calculus, there is strong evidence to suggest that Bhaskara was a pioneer in some of the principles of differential calculus. He was perhaps the first to conceive the theorems of differential coefficient and differential calculus. 


He conceived the modern mathematical finding that when a finite number is divided by zero, the result is infinity. He also accurately defined many astronomical quantities using models developed by seventh-century scholar Brahmagupta.For example, he calculated that the time that is required for the Earth to orbit the Sun is 365.2588 days. The modern accepted measurement is 365.2563 days, a difference of just 3.5 minutes. Bhaskara wrote Karanakuthuhala, a book on astronomical calculations, which is still referred to while making precise calendars. Bhaskara II was also a noted astrologer, and it is said that he named his first work after his daughter Lilavati. 

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