Peter Lax facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Lax
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Lax in 1969
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| Born |
Péter Dávid Lax
1 May 1926 |
| Died | 16 May 2025 (aged 99) Manhattan, New York, U.S.
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| Nationality | American, Hungarian |
| Education | New York University (BS, MS, PhD) Texas A&M University University of New Mexico Stanford University |
| Known for | Lax equivalence theorem Lax pairs Lax–Milgram theorem Lax–Friedrichs method Lax–Wendroff method Lax–Wendroff theorem Beurling–Lax theorem HLLE solver Fourier integral operator |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematics |
| Institutions | Courant Institute |
| Thesis | Nonlinear System of Hyperbolic Partial Differential Equations in Two Independent Variables (1949) |
| Doctoral advisor | K. O. Friedrichs |
| Doctoral students |
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Peter David Lax (born May 1, 1926, died May 16, 2025) was a famous mathematician. He was born in Hungary but became an American citizen. He won the Abel Prize, which is one of the highest honors in mathematics.
Lax made important discoveries in many areas of mathematics. These include how liquids and gases move (called fluid dynamics) and how shock waves behave. He also worked on scientific computing, which uses computers to solve math problems.
In 1958, Lax proposed an idea about how to represent certain math problems using matrices. This idea, called the "Lax conjecture," was very important. It took over 40 years for other mathematicians to prove that his idea was correct in 2003.
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Peter Lax's Early Life and Education
Peter Lax was born in Budapest, Hungary. His family was Jewish. He showed a strong interest in math when he was just twelve years old. His parents, who were both doctors, hired a math tutor for him, Rózsa Péter. His uncle, Albert Kornfeld, was also a mathematician.
In 1941, Lax's family left Hungary and traveled to the United States. He attended Stuyvesant High School in New York. Even though he didn't take math classes there, he was part of the school's math team. During this time, he met famous scientists like John von Neumann and Albert Einstein.
Since he was only 17 when he finished high school, he didn't have to join the military right away. This allowed him to study at New York University for three semesters. He even ended up teaching a complex analysis class there. In this class, he met Anneli Cahn, who later became his wife.
Lax Joins the U.S. Army
Before he could finish his studies, Lax was drafted into the U.S. Army. After basic training, the Army sent him to Texas A&M University for more education. He then worked at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Soon after, he joined the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos, New Mexico.
At Los Alamos, he first worked as a calculator operator. But soon, he moved on to more advanced math problems. After World War II ended, he stayed with the Army for another year. During this time, he took classes at the University of New Mexico. He also studied at Stanford University for a semester.
Completing His Studies
Lax returned to New York University in 1946. He combined credits from the four universities he had attended and graduated that year. He continued his studies at NYU for his advanced degrees. He married Anneli in 1948. In 1949, he earned his PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) degree. His advisor was Kurt O. Friedrichs.
After getting his PhD, Lax became a professor. He taught in the Department of Mathematics at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University.
Peter Lax passed away on May 16, 2025, in his home in Manhattan. He was 99 years old.
Awards and Special Honors for Peter Lax
Peter Lax received many awards and honors for his amazing work in mathematics. He was a member of several important groups, including:
- The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
- The National Academy of Sciences, USA
- The American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- The American Philosophical Society
He won the Lester R. Ford Award twice, in 1966 and 1973. In 1974, his article about shock waves won the Chauvenet Prize.
Some of his most important awards include:
- The National Medal of Science in 1986
- The Wolf Prize in 1987
- The Abel Prize in 2005
- The Lomonosov Gold Medal in 2013
In 2007, the American Mathematical Society chose him to give their Gibbs Lecture. In 2012, he became a fellow of the American Mathematical Society. He also received an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in 1990.
Peter Lax is known as a highly cited researcher. This means his work is often referred to by other scientists. He was also considered one of "The Martians." This was a nickname for a group of brilliant Hungarian scientists who moved to the United States.
Books Written by Peter Lax
Peter Lax wrote many important books about mathematics. Some of them include:
- Calculus with Applications and Computing (1979)
- Complex Proofs of Real Theorems (2012)
- Functional Analysis (2002)
- Hyperbolic Partial Differential Equations (2006)
- Linear Algebra and Its Applications (2007)
- Scattering Theory (1989)
See also
In Spanish: Peter Lax para niños
