Maria Gaetana Agnesi was born in 1718 and died at the old age of 80 in the year 1799. She was by far one of the most important and extraordinary figure in mathematics during the 18th century. She was an Italian mathematician and philosopher and dedicated her life to her studies. In her early years, she was known as a child prodigy and it is no surprise the successful life she lived. Because of her intelligence, she was responsible for teaching her 22 younger siblings/half siblings and this kept her from her own goal of entering a convent. Her father did grant her wish to live in an an almost conventual semi-retirement, avoiding all interactions with society and devoting herself entirely to the study of mathematics. It was during this time that she began studying differential and integral calculus. Agnesi is credited with writing the first book discussing both differential and integral calculus.
Agnesi has been thought of as the first important woman mathematician since Hypatia. Instituzioni analitiche ad uso della gioventu italiana (Analytical Institutions for the Use of Italian Youth) is the most valuable result of Agnesi's studies. In this, she worked on integrating mathematical analysis with algebra. Many praised Agasi's work and thanked her with gifts and letters, including Pope Benedict XIV. Pope Benedict XIV appointed her to the chair of mathematics and natural philosophy and physics at Bologna, though she never served. Agnesi was the second woman ever to be granted professorship at a university.
Maria Gaetana Agnesi is best known from the curve called the "Witch of Agnesi" illustrations from her text Instituzioni analitiche ad uso della gioventu italiana. She considered the x-axis to be vertical and the y-axis to be horizontal, so she wrote the equation of this curve in the form y=a*sqrt(a*x-x*x)/x, so the modern form is given by the Cartesian equation y=a^3/(x^2+a^2). The curve was called "versiera," which is a word derived from the Latin word, meaning "to turn." However, it was also an abbreviation for the Italian word avversiera, which means "the wife of the devil," so when the text was translated to English the word versiera was confused with "which" resulting as the curve being known as the "witch of Agnesi."
Maria Gaetana Agnesi had to stop her studies when she became ill again, which is why she never served as the chair of mathematics and natural philosophy and physics at Bologna. She resorted to her interest and love for her religion and devoted herself to the poor, homeless, and sick. She founded and became the director of the Opera Pia Trivulzio. It was a home for Milan's elderly, where she resided with the nuns of the institution.
Women in mathematics do not get as much credit as they deserve, especially in the time that Maria Gaetana Agnesi lived. Despite her struggle to maintain respect from other mathematicians and, more importantly, her father, she became one of the most well known women mathematicians of her time. Her dedication and work ethic is inspiring and I find her to be such a strong willed person. Although she was never able to serve as the chair of mathematics and natural philosophy and physics at Bologna, I believe that it is still incredibly impressive that she gained the attention and admiration of fellow males. Mathematics is not really though of as a subject for women. However, the percentage of women matheticians has continuously grown and I believe that we have these first few women that began making significant contributions to thank, especially including Maria Gaetana Agnesi.
Agnesi has been thought of as the first important woman mathematician since Hypatia. Instituzioni analitiche ad uso della gioventu italiana (Analytical Institutions for the Use of Italian Youth) is the most valuable result of Agnesi's studies. In this, she worked on integrating mathematical analysis with algebra. Many praised Agasi's work and thanked her with gifts and letters, including Pope Benedict XIV. Pope Benedict XIV appointed her to the chair of mathematics and natural philosophy and physics at Bologna, though she never served. Agnesi was the second woman ever to be granted professorship at a university.
Maria Gaetana Agnesi is best known from the curve called the "Witch of Agnesi" illustrations from her text Instituzioni analitiche ad uso della gioventu italiana. She considered the x-axis to be vertical and the y-axis to be horizontal, so she wrote the equation of this curve in the form y=a*sqrt(a*x-x*x)/x, so the modern form is given by the Cartesian equation y=a^3/(x^2+a^2). The curve was called "versiera," which is a word derived from the Latin word, meaning "to turn." However, it was also an abbreviation for the Italian word avversiera, which means "the wife of the devil," so when the text was translated to English the word versiera was confused with "which" resulting as the curve being known as the "witch of Agnesi."
Maria Gaetana Agnesi had to stop her studies when she became ill again, which is why she never served as the chair of mathematics and natural philosophy and physics at Bologna. She resorted to her interest and love for her religion and devoted herself to the poor, homeless, and sick. She founded and became the director of the Opera Pia Trivulzio. It was a home for Milan's elderly, where she resided with the nuns of the institution.
Women in mathematics do not get as much credit as they deserve, especially in the time that Maria Gaetana Agnesi lived. Despite her struggle to maintain respect from other mathematicians and, more importantly, her father, she became one of the most well known women mathematicians of her time. Her dedication and work ethic is inspiring and I find her to be such a strong willed person. Although she was never able to serve as the chair of mathematics and natural philosophy and physics at Bologna, I believe that it is still incredibly impressive that she gained the attention and admiration of fellow males. Mathematics is not really though of as a subject for women. However, the percentage of women matheticians has continuously grown and I believe that we have these first few women that began making significant contributions to thank, especially including Maria Gaetana Agnesi.