Marguerite Frank facts for kids

Marguerite Straus Frank, born on September 8, 1927, is a brilliant French-American mathematician. She is known for being a pioneer in important areas of math like convex optimization and mathematical programming. These fields help solve problems in many real-world situations.

Early Life and Education

Marguerite went to school in Paris, France, and Toronto, Canada. She became very interested in math. She focused on complex topics like transportation theory and Lie algebras. These subjects later became the focus of her PhD project.

Studying at Harvard

Marguerite Straus Frank was one of the first women to study for a PhD in mathematics at Harvard University. She finished her PhD in 1956. Her project was called New Simple Lie Algebras. Her advisor, who guided her studies, was Abraham Adrian Albert.

Major Contributions to Mathematics

In 1956, Marguerite Frank worked with another mathematician, Philip Wolfe, at Princeton University. Together, they created something very important called the Frank–Wolfe algorithm.

The Frank–Wolfe Algorithm

The Frank–Wolfe algorithm is a special method used to solve difficult math problems. It helps find the best possible solution when there are certain rules or limits. This method is especially useful for problems that are not simple or "linear."

At the time, "linear programming" was very popular. But their work helped change how mathematicians thought about these problems. It opened the door to solving more complex, "non-linear" problems.

Real-World Uses

This algorithm is still used a lot today. For example, it helps create traffic models. These models can figure out the best routes for cars to take. It's also used in advanced software like Saturn (software) for planning and strategy.

Career Highlights

Marguerite Frank was part of a special project at Princeton University. This project focused on logistics, which is about planning and managing how things move. It was led by famous mathematicians Harold W. Kuhn and Albert W. Tucker.

Teaching and Research

In 1977, she became a professor at Columbia University. Later, she moved to Rider University. She also shared her knowledge as a visiting professor at other well-known universities. She taught at Stanford University from 1985 to 1990. She also taught at ESSEC Business School in Paris in 1991.

Recognition and Personal Life

Marguerite Frank's important work was recognized in 1981. She was chosen to be a member of the New York Academy of Sciences. This is a group that honors top scientists.

Family Life

Marguerite Frank was born in France. She moved to the United States in 1939 during World War II. She was married to Joseph Frank from 1953 until he passed away in 2013. Joseph Frank was a literature professor at Stanford. He was also a well-known author who wrote about the famous writer Dostoevsky.