Johann Friedrich Pfaff

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Johann Friedrich Pfaff
Johann Friedrich Pfaff
Johann Friedrich Pfaff
Born December 22, 1765(1765-12-22)
Stuttgart, Germany
Died April 21, 1825 (aged 59)
Halle, Germany
Residence Germany
Nationality German
Fields Mathematics
Institutions University of Helmstedt
Halle University
Alma mater University of Göttingen
Doctoral advisor Abraham Kaestner
Doctoral students Carl Friedrich Gauss
August Möbius
Known for Pfaffians

Johann Friedrich Pfaff (sometimes spelled Friederich) was born in Stuttgart on December 22, 1765, and died in Halle on April 21, 1825. Pfaff was described as one of Germany's most eminent mathematicians during the 19th century. He studied integral calculus, and is noted for his work on partial differential equations of the first order (Pfaffian systems as they are now called) which became part of the theory of differential forms; and as Carl Friedrich Gauss's formal research supervisor.

Pfaff was a student of Abraham Kaestner, and became the precursor of the German school of mathematic thinking, which under Gauss and his followers largely determined the lines on which mathematics developed during the nineteenth century. He knew Gauss well, when they both lived together in Helmstedt in 1798. August Möbius was later a student of his.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links


Persondata
NAME Pfaff, Johann Friedrich
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION German mathematician
DATE OF BIRTH December 22, 1765
PLACE OF BIRTH Stuttgart, Germany
DATE OF DEATH April 21, 1825
PLACE OF DEATH Halle, Germany