Sophie Germain

Sophie Germain was born in 1776, in Paris, into a wealthy family. When Sophie was a young girl, the French revolution was occurring, which left her confined inside her house for long hours, and days. During this time she went into her father's library, and came across a book that discussed Archimedes' death. Legend has it that "during the invasion of his city by the Romans Archimedes was so engrossed in the study of a geometric figure in the sand that he failed to respond to the questioning of a Roman soldier. As a result he was speared to death" Sophie was intrigued! How could one man be so interested in a subject that he would die for it?! Therefore, she began studying mathematics.

Sophie was rebellious, because her parents insisted that girls should not study math. Note that during this time period, like the other women mathematicians, it was inappropriate for women to study mathematics. Her parents discouraged any studying of mathematics, so Sophie decided to study at nighttime, while they were sleeping. Her parents found out of her oppositional ways, and warned her not to study. Her parents took away her clothes and lighting in order to make her stay in bed, but Sophie always had extra hid, and still studied. How loyal! Her parents decided that she had an incurable disease for mathematics, and let her study. Sophie eventually taught herself differential calculus.

A college nearby Paris opened specifically to study science and mathematics, but since Sophie was a women, she could not attend. However, she used a code name "M LeBlanc," and submitted an analysis to Lagrange for him to check over. He was impressed LeBlanc's intelligence, and demanded to meet her! To his surprise, Sophie was LeBlanc, and he was amazed. He became her mentor, and he took her to meetings with other mathematicians. Sophie was loving life! Sophie repeated this action with Gauss, and she sent him a letter on number theory. He quickly found out that LeBlanc was really Sophie,  and was intrigued by her intelligence. For in this letter she proved a case of Fermat's theorem that states x^n+y^n=z^n, and she let n=5.

Alongside number theory, Sophie also went on to study the theory of elasticity. She wrote a paper, and submitted it three times to the French Academy of Sciences, and the final time she won an award.  She was the first female to attend Academy meetings who was not a wife of the other members. Sophie worked all her life on her proofs and theories. At 55, Sophie died from breast cancer. Sophie is an honorary historical woman for her work in mathematics, but also for her bravery to stand up to social prejudices, and fight for her love of mathematics.

References and Photo:

The History of Mathematics, by Daniel Barton

http://www.agnesscott.edu/lriddle/women/germain.htm

http://www.sciencephoto.com/images/download_lo_res.html?id=670043663