Srinivasa Ramanujan: His number theories proved

UW scientists unlock major number theory puzzle (Feb 26, 2007)

Mathematicians have finally laid to rest the legendary mystery surrounding an elusive group of numerical expressions known as the "mock theta functions." Number theorists have struggled to understand the functions ever since the great Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan first alluded to them in a letter written on his deathbed, in 1920.

The man:
This is more of a fiction story than real to the ears. Ramanujan was a self-taught mathematician who was born in the Tamil Nadu state of India. Born in a poor family, went through a life that was expected of such a person. At the age of 25 in 1913, he went to Cambridge to continue his work under G. H. Hardy, a preeminent mathematician of his time. Ramanujan at that time was working as a clerk in the Accountant General office. He made some effort to get attention by getting some of his papers printed, but could not get through. Then he sent letters to the prominent mathematicians of his time, with some of this work. His genius was recognized by Hardy and he brought him to England.

Over the period of six years, he did most of his work. He is said to have written around 3000 theorems in this time. Most of his work was not as elaborate as a trained mathematicians, because he wasn't. He often wrote the answer without stating much derivation. Making it difficult for others to see how it was true, but somehow they knew it was coming from such a man. In 1919, he returned to India and in the next one year, died of tuberculosis at the age of 32.