Paul Guldin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Guldin
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Paul Guldin
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| Born | 12 June 1577 |
| Died | 3 November 1643 (aged 66) |
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Other names | Habakkuk Guldin |
| Occupation | Jesuit mathematician astronomer |
| Known for | Guldinus theorem |
Paul Guldin was a smart Swiss man who lived a long time ago. He was born on June 12, 1577, and his first name was Habakkuk. He passed away on November 3, 1643.
Paul Guldin was a Jesuit, which is a member of a religious order. He was also a very talented mathematician and astronomer. This means he studied numbers, shapes, and the stars.
Contents
Paul Guldin's Big Discovery
Paul Guldin is famous for discovering something called the Guldinus theorem. This theorem helps us figure out the surface area and volume of certain 3D shapes. These shapes are made by spinning a flat shape around a line. Imagine spinning a flat circle to make a ball, or spinning a rectangle to make a cylinder.
- The Guldinus theorem helps calculate how much space these shapes take up (their volume).
- It also helps calculate how much "skin" they have on the outside (their surface area).
This theorem is also sometimes called the Pappus–Guldinus theorem. That's because another ancient Greek mathematician named Pappus of Alexandria had a similar idea a long time before Guldin.
Working with Other Scientists
Paul Guldin knew many important thinkers of his time. He was especially good friends with Johannes Kepler. Kepler was a famous German mathematician and astronomer. He is known for his laws about how planets move around the sun.
Guldin also wrote about the ideas of another mathematician named Bonaventura Cavalieri. Cavalieri had a method for calculating areas and volumes. Guldin looked closely at Cavalieri's work and shared his thoughts on it.
His Early Life and Teaching
Paul Guldin was born in Mels, Switzerland. Even though his family had Jewish roots, his parents were Protestants. They raised him in the Protestant faith.
Later in his life, Guldin became a professor. He taught mathematics at universities in two cities:
He helped many students learn about math and the stars during his time as a teacher.
Talking About the Universe
A book called Terra machinis mota was written in 1658 by Paolo Casati. In this book, Casati imagined a conversation between three smart people. These people were Paul Guldin, Galileo Galilei, and Marin Mersenne.
They talked about many interesting things in the book. They discussed ideas about:
- The universe and how it works
- The Earth and its features
- The stars and planets
- How to measure the Earth's shape
This imaginary conversation shows how important Guldin was in the world of science back then.
See also
In Spanish: Paul Guldin para niños
- List of Roman Catholic scientist-clerics
