Emilie Virginia Haynsworth facts for kids

Emilie Virginia Haynsworth (born June 1, 1916 – died May 4, 1985) was a very smart American mathematician. She taught at Auburn University. Emilie worked with linear algebra and matrix theory. These are special kinds of math that use numbers arranged in rows and columns. She even named a math idea called the Schur complement. Another important math rule is named after her: the Haynsworth inertia additivity formula. People said she had very original ideas and a strong, independent mind.

Emilie's Early Life and School

Emilie Haynsworth was born and died in Sumter, South Carolina. When she was in junior high, she was already great at math. She even competed in math contests across her state!

In 1937, she earned her first college degree in math from Coker College. Then, in 1939, she got a master's degree from Columbia University in New York City. After that, she became a high school math teacher.

Working During Wartime

During World War II, Emilie stopped teaching. She went to work at the Aberdeen Proving Ground. This was a place where the military tested weapons. After the war, she became a lecturer at the University of Illinois. She taught at their program in Galesburg, Illinois.

Becoming a Doctor of Math

In 1948, Emilie started studying for her doctorate degree at Columbia University. A doctorate is the highest degree you can get in a subject. She soon moved to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She finished her doctorate there in 1952. Her big research paper was about "Bounds for Determinants with Dominant Main Diagonal."

Teaching at Universities

In 1951, Emilie became a professor at Wilson College (Pennsylvania). Later, in 1955, she worked at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. This place helps set standards for science and technology.

In 1960, she returned to teaching at Auburn University. The person who hired her, William Vann Parker, didn't just ask her questions. Instead, they worked on a math problem together during the interview!

At Auburn, Emilie became a guide for many students. She helped 17 students get their own doctorate degrees in math. In 1965, she became a special research professor. She also led the Southeastern Section of the Mathematical Association of America from 1976 to 1977. Emilie retired in 1983.

Her Important Math Discoveries

Emilie Haynsworth's early math work was about "determinants." These are special numbers that come from matrices. Matrices are like grids of numbers. She also worked on ways to find the "eigenvalues" of matrices. Eigenvalues are important numbers that describe how a matrix behaves.

Emilie is especially known for two important papers she published in 1968. In one paper, she identified and named the Schur complement. This was a math idea she had been using since 1959. In another paper from 1968, she used the Schur complement to prove a new math rule. This rule is now called the Haynsworth inertia additivity formula. It helps mathematicians understand how eigenvalues of a large matrix relate to smaller parts of that matrix.