Irene Stegun facts for kids
Irene Ann Stegun (born February 9, 1919 – died January 27, 2008) was an amazing American mathematician. She worked at the National Bureau of Standards, which is now called the National Institute of Standards and Technology. She is most famous for editing a very important book of mathematical tables. This book is known as A Handbook of Mathematical Functions, but most people just call it Abramowitz and Stegun. It became a classic guide for scientists and engineers.
Early Life and Education
Irene Stegun was born in Yonkers, New York. She started her career in mathematics during World War II. At that time, math was very important for many things, including helping with the war effort.
Before joining the government, she taught math at a Catholic school in New York. Later, she joined a special group called the Planning Committee of the Mathematical Tables Project. This project was part of the WPA, a government program that created jobs.
While working there, Irene learned a lot about numerical analysis. This is a field of math that uses numbers to solve complex problems. She learned from the committee's leader, Gertrude Blanch. During this time, Irene also earned her master's degree in mathematics from Columbia University.
Working for the Government
In 1948, Irene Stegun and some other members of the Mathematical Tables Project moved to Washington, D.C. There, they helped create the Computation Laboratory for the National Bureau of Standards. This lab was a place where advanced math problems could be solved.
Irene worked her way up and became the assistant chief of the Computation Laboratory. Her hard work and dedication were recognized. In 1965, she received a special award called the Gold Medal from the United States Department of Commerce. This award was given for all her efforts in completing the big math project. She continued to lead the Computing Lab, even becoming its interim director in 1965.
The Famous Math Handbook
Irene Stegun's most lasting contribution is the book Abramowitz and Stegun. This handbook is a huge collection of mathematical tables and formulas. It helps scientists, engineers, and students quickly find the math information they need. Even today, many people still use this book as a trusted resource. It shows how important Irene Stegun's work was in making complex math easier to use for everyone.
