Sophie Germain

Biography

Sophie Germain taught herself mathematics from books in her father's library during the French Revolution, when women were barred from universities. She corresponded with Lagrange and Gauss under a male pseudonym, and her work on Fermat's Last Theorem and elasticity theory earned her the respect of the mathematical community. Gauss later said she proved that women can accomplish remarkable work in the most rigorous sciences.

法国大革命期间，当女性被禁止进入大学时，索菲·热尔曼在父亲的图书馆里自学数学。她以男性笔名与拉格朗日和高斯通信，她在费马大定理和弹性理论方面的工作为她赢得了数学界的尊重。高斯后来说她证明了女性能够在最严谨的科学中取得非凡成就。

Key Achievements

• Major contributions to number theory and Fermat's Last Theorem

  对数论和费马大定理做出重大贡献

• Pioneered mathematical elasticity theory

  开创了数学弹性理论

• Won the French Academy Prize for her work on vibrating surfaces

  因振动表面研究获法国科学院奖

References & Citations

1. Wikipedia: Sophie Germain — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophie_Germain
2. Laubenbacher, R. & Pengelley, D. 'Voici ce que j'ai trouvé: Sophie Germain's grand plan,' Historia Mathematica, 2010.