Impacts of Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss as a Mathematician Term Paper

Impacts of Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss as a Mathematician - Term Paper ExampleIn his life date, Gauss had hardly do a contribution to the field of math. It is said that the German mathematician was aloof to the pubic world of the mathematicians nonable in his days. Gauss only communicated to a few of his trusted friends who were also strongly inclined to mathematics. Besides Bolyai, Schumacher was one of Gausss trusted correspondence in which the latter confided to the former most his spending a considerable time on geometry (Tent, 2006, p. 214). On the other hand, upon the death of the gifted mathematician -- and the subsequent discovery of his mathematical notes and ideas -- the world of mathematics had never been the same. Particularly his contribution to the shaping of the so-called non-Euclidean geometry, Gauss had made an impact to the field of geometry. His schoolmate Bolyai had asked him, for several(prenominal) times, pertaining to his view to Euclids fifth postulate -- also known as the parallel postulate. But Gauss did not disclose his discovery concerning the existence of the non-Euclidean geometry for the reason that he did not want to rock the boat (Tent, 2006, p. 215). True, Gausss non-Euclidean geometry -- for the first time he called it as anti-Euclidean -- had caused a stir in the area of mathematics marked in the late 18th century. Non-Euclidean geometry is basically defined as an area in geometry in which Euclids first four postulates are held but the fifth postulate has a quite different and distinct indication in contrast to what is stated in the Elements (Weisstein, 2011). Among various versions of non-Euclidean geometry, the so-called hyperbolic geometry is where Gauss belongs to. In one of their conversations, Gauss revealed to Schumacher somewhat his anti-Euclidean geometry I realized that there also had to be triangles whose three angles add up to more or less than 1800 in the non-Euclidean world. I had it all mapped out (Tent , 2006, 214, my italics). Here, Gauss categorized the fundamental elements of his newly found mathematics. That is to say, Gausss non-Euclidean geometry is a departure from two-dimensional geometry characterized in Euclidean mathematics. Gausss hyperbolic geometry, in fact, works greatly in three-dimensional geometry or space. Thence, the impact of Gausss mathematical discovery, if not innovation, was quite evident peculiarly within the field of mathematics. For one, Gauss had rotateed up a new world or knowledge about the wider space or scope of mathematics, particularly geometry. That is, man does not live in a differentiate two-dimensional space. Based from this paradigm (i.e., hyperbolic geometry), one hindquarters explore the multifarious possibilities laid open by non-Euclidean geometry. Perhaps the greatest impact of Gausss hyperbolic mathematics is found in the sphere of astronomy. In 1801, for instance, Gausss mathematics had greatly facilitated the discovery of a dwarf planet named Ceres (Tyson, 2004). Evidently, this is the jump for joy of mathematics. Utilizing the non-Euclidean geometry, it became possible for man to calculate the universe even without the use of advanced technology such as the telescope. Using Gausss hyperbolic geometry, man is able to see the cosmos beyond the Euclidean geometry can offer. Space, after all, is three-dimensional -- be it space in/on earth or in the universe. Generally, non-Euclidean geo