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Who Is The Greatest Mathematician of All Time?

Celebrate the most influential mathematicians in history by submitting your picks for the greatest mathematician of all time. Share their groundbreaking contributions and why they stand out in the field of mathematics.

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Who Is The Greatest Mathematician of All Time?

Leonhard Euler

One of the most prolific mathematicians in history, Euler made profound contributions to virtually all areas of mathematics of his time, including calculus, number theory, graph theory (Konigsberg bridge problem), mechanics, fluid dynamics, optics, and astronomy. He introduced much of modern mathematical notation, including e, i, π (popularized), Σ for …

Euler's work laid the foundations for many branches of modern mathematics and physics. His introduction of standard notation unified mathematical language, and his textbooks shaped mathematical education for generations. His formulas and theorems are ubiquitous in science and engineering, demonstrating the interconnectedness and elegance of mathematics.

1707 – 1783 AD

180 19

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#2 Ranked Submission

Who Is The Greatest Mathematician of All Time?

Euclid

Authored Elements, a comprehensive treatise on geometry and number theory, which presented mathematics in a rigorous, axiomatic framework. This work included systematic proofs for geometric theorems and early number theory concepts, such as Euclid's algorithm for finding the greatest common divisor and a proof of the infinitude of prime numbers. …

Elements was the standard textbook for mathematics for over two millennia, profoundly shaping Western mathematical thought and scientific reasoning. Its axiomatic method remains a model for logical argumentation in mathematics and other sciences. Euclidean geometry is still fundamental in education and has practical applications in fields like engineering, physics, and …

c. 325 – c. 270 BC

13 8

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#3 Ranked Submission

Who Is The Greatest Mathematician of All Time?

Carl Friedrich Gauss

Often called the "Prince of Mathematicians," Gauss made monumental contributions to number theory (e.g., Disquisitiones Arithmeticae, which systematized the field and introduced modular arithmetic), algebra (fundamental theorem of algebra), statistics (method of least squares, normal distribution), differential geometry, geodesy, and astronomy. He also did early work in non-Euclidean geometry.

Gauss's work revolutionized number theory and remains central to the field. The method of least squares is a cornerstone of statistical analysis and data fitting across all sciences. His contributions to differential geometry were essential for Einstein's theory of relativity. His influence is pervasive in modern mathematics and its applications.

1777 – 1855 AD

11 7

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#4 Ranked Submission

Who Is The Greatest Mathematician of All Time?

Isaac Newton

A towering figure of the Scientific Revolution, Newton co-invented calculus (developing "fluxions") and formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation, published in his Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (1687). He also made significant contributions to optics, generalized the binomial theorem to non-integer exponents, and developed methods for approximating roots of …

Newton's laws of motion and gravitation provided the dominant scientific framework for centuries and are still fundamental in classical physics and engineering. Calculus, which he developed, is an indispensable tool in virtually all scientific and technological disciplines, used for modeling change and solving complex problems. His work transformed mathematics and …

1643 – 1727 AD

11 11

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#5 Ranked Submission

Who Is The Greatest Mathematician of All Time?

Georg Cantor

The founder of set theory, Cantor introduced the revolutionary concepts of transfinite numbers, different "sizes" of infinity (cardinal and ordinal numbers), and proved that real numbers are "more numerous" than natural numbers using his diagonal argument. His work faced considerable opposition initially but eventually became foundational.

Set theory is now a fundamental language and framework for virtually all of modern mathematics, underpinning fields like analysis, topology, abstract algebra, and mathematical logic. Cantor's work on infinity transformed mathematics, allowing for the rigorous study of infinite sets and profoundly impacting our understanding of mathematical objects and continuity.

1845 – 1918 AD

7 9

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Who Is The Greatest Mathematician of All Time?

Leonhard Euler

Euclid

Carl Friedrich Gauss

Isaac Newton

Georg Cantor

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