Pierre Ossian Bonnet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pierre Ossian Bonnet
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| Born | 22 December 1819 |
| Died | 22 June 1892 (aged 72) |
| Nationality | French |
| Alma mater | École Polytechnique École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées |
| Known for | Bonnet family Bonnet theorem Bonnet's recursion formula Bonnet–Myers theorem Gauss–Bonnet theorem |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematics |
Pierre Ossian Bonnet was a French mathematician born on December 22, 1819, in Montpellier. He passed away on June 22, 1892, in Paris. Bonnet is known for his important work in a field of math called differential geometry, especially for his contributions to the Gauss–Bonnet theorem.
Contents
About Pierre Bonnet
His Early Life and Studies
Pierre Bonnet went to school at the Collège in Montpellier. In 1838, he moved to Paris to study at the famous École Polytechnique. He also attended the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées. These schools are known for training top engineers and scientists.
Choosing a Path in Mathematics
After finishing his studies, Bonnet was offered a job as an engineer. However, he decided to follow his passion for mathematics instead. He chose a career in teaching and research.
This decision was not easy for Bonnet because he did not have much money. To support himself, he gave private lessons. This allowed him to accept a position at the École Polytechnique in 1844.
Important Discoveries in Math
Bonnet started working on differential geometry in 1844. This area of math studies shapes and curves in space. He made big contributions to understanding curvature, which is how much a curve or surface bends.
One of his most famous achievements is the Gauss–Bonnet theorem. This theorem connects the shape of a surface to its overall structure. It was a very important discovery in mathematics. Another mathematician, Carl Friedrich Gauss, had found a special part of this theorem earlier but never published it.
Bonnet also showed that the Gauss curvature of a surface stays the same even if you bend the surface without stretching or tearing it. He published many papers on the differential geometry of surfaces between 1844 and 1867.
His Career and Recognition
In 1862, Bonnet was elected to the Academy of Sciences. This was a great honor for him. Later, he helped teach at the École Polytechnique and became a director of studies there. He also taught at the École Normale Supérieure.
In 1878, Bonnet took over a special teaching position at the Sorbonne, a famous university in Paris. He continued to contribute greatly to the world of mathematics throughout his life.
See also
- Topics named after Carl Friedrich Gauss
