Thomas Callister Hales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Hales
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| Born | June 4, 1958 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Princeton University University of Cambridge Stanford University |
| Known for | Proof of the Kepler conjecture Proof of the honeycomb conjecture Proof of the dodecahedral conjecture |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematics |
| Institutions | University of Pittsburgh University of Michigan University of Chicago Harvard University |
| Doctoral advisor | Robert Langlands |
| Doctoral students | Julia Gordon |
Thomas Callister Hales (born June 4, 1958) is an American mathematician. He is famous for solving some very old and tricky math problems. His work involves discrete geometry, which is about how shapes and objects fit together. He also uses formal verification, which means using computers to check math proofs.
About Thomas Hales
Thomas Hales earned his Ph.D. (a high-level university degree) from Princeton University in 1986. After that, he taught at several well-known universities. These included Harvard University and the University of Chicago. From 1993 to 2002, he worked at the University of Michigan.
In 1998, Hales made a big breakthrough. He submitted his proof for the Kepler conjecture. This was a math problem that had puzzled people for hundreds of years! It's about the best way to stack spheres, like oranges in a grocery store. The conjecture says that stacking them in a pyramid shape (like a tetrahedron) is the most space-saving way. He used computers to help him with this proof. A student named Samuel Ferguson helped him too.
A year later, in 1999, Hales solved another famous problem. This was called the honeycomb conjecture. This idea explains why honeycombs made by bees are always in a hexagon shape. It shows that hexagons are the best shape to divide a flat surface into equal parts. This makes them very efficient.
After 2002, Hales became a special professor at the University of Pittsburgh. In 2003, he started a new project called "Flyspeck." The goal of Flyspeck was to double-check his proof of the Kepler conjecture. His original proof was very long and complex. It used a lot of computer calculations.
To make sure the proof was absolutely correct, the Flyspeck project used special computer programs. These programs are called proof assistants. They help mathematicians check every step of a proof. In 2005, a math journal accepted his proof. However, they were only 99% sure it was perfect. Finally, in August 2014, the Flyspeck team finished their work. Their software confirmed that Hales's proof was 100% correct!
Awards and Recognition
Thomas Hales has received many important awards for his work. In 2002, he was invited to speak at a big meeting for mathematicians from all over the world.
He won the Chauvenet Prize in 2003. He also received the R. E. Moore Prize in 2004. In 2007, he was given the first-ever Robbins Prize. He also won a Lester R. Ford Award in 2008 and a Fulkerson Prize in 2009.
In 2012, he became a fellow of the American Mathematical Society. This is a special honor for mathematicians. In 2019, he gave the important Tarski Lectures. His talks were about his proof of the Kepler conjecture and how computers can help with math. In 2020, he won the Senior Berwick Prize.
See also
In Spanish: Thomas Callister Hales para niños
