Srinivasa Ramanujan (questions answers and summary)

   

srinivasa-ramanujan

Srinivasa Ramajun was the one of the greatest mathematical genius of the world. He was born in a poor family at Erode in Coimbatore in 1887. His father was an accountant to a cloth merchant and had to maintain a large family on a small income. Srinivasa was granted half exemption of fees when he stood first in the primary school exam in whole of Tnanjore district.

From his childhood he had a quiet and dreamy temperament but he was brilliant at mathematics. Figures did not worry him. Things which were all dark to his classmates were as clear as daylight to him. He always help them.

When he was in second standard his curiosity upon the subject of the highest truth in mathematics was aroused. In fourth standard he could solve the most difficult problems of trigonometry. He solved Ewler's theorem and Car's synopsis of pure mathematics. He kept a record of the solutions in a note book which he afterwards showed to other mathematicians to their great astonishment.

He won Subramaniyan scholarship usually awarded for proficiency in English as well as Mathematics. But because of his passion in maths he neglected other subjects and failed. As a result he lost his scholarship. This was great calamity to him. He had no money no approach and no books at the age of 18 without any plans.

He married in 1909. To seek a job he met M.V. Ramaswamy Aiyar M.A.

The founder of Indian Mathematical Society. Mr. Aiyar was deeply impressed by his brilliant gifts. He sent him to Sheshu Aiyar through which he obtained a post in the office of A.G. at Madras. Mr. Sheshu Aiyar sent him to collector of Nellore Diwan Bahadur Ramchandra Rao who was also a mathematician. He was greatly impressed by his notebooks. He sent him to Madras Port Trust and appointed there at the salary of Rs.30 a month. At the job he used all the time for maths and published an article in the journal of IMS.

The chairman of Madras Port Trust Sir Francis Spring and Mr. A. Narayan Aiyar was amazed at his unique talent and they did all they could to help him. At their suggestion Ramanujan entered into correspondence with Prof. G.H. Hardy then fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge and one of the foremost mathematician in the world.

Questions and answers:

Q.1 What was the work that Ramanujan's father did with the cloth merchant ?

Ans. Ramanujan's father worked as an accountant with the cloth merchant.

Q.2  Why was Ramanujan granted half exemption in fees at school ?

Ans. Ramanujan granted half exemption in fees at school because he stood first in the primary exam in the whole Tanjore district.

Q.3  What sort of temperament Ramanujan possessed since his childhood ?

Ans. From his childhood Ramanujan was of a quiet and dreamy temperament.

Q.4  When was Ramanujan's curiosity about the highest truth in mathematics aroused ?

Ans. Ramanujan's curiosity about the highest truth in mathematics aroused when he was in second standard.

Q.5  What did Ramanujan do with the solutions of the exercise he made ?

Ans. Ramanujan kept a record of the solutions of the exercise he made in a note book.

Q.6  What happened when the Ramanujan's passion for mathematics gained on him ?

Ans. When the Ramanujan's passion for mathematics gained on him, he neglected other subjects and failed to gain promotion to the higher class.

Q.7  How did Ramanujan lose his scholarship ?

Ans. Ramanujan lost his scholarship because he spent most of his time in mathematics and ignored other subjects and so he failed in the examination.

Q.8  In which year Ramanujan got married ?

Ans. Ramanujan got married in the year 1909 at the age of 22.

Q.9  Who was the founder of the Indian Mathematical Society ?

Ans. Mr. V. Ramaswamy Aiyar was the founder of the Indian Mathematical Society.

Q.10  Through whose influence did Ramanujan get post in Madras Port Trust ?

Ans. Through the influence of Diwan Bahadur Ramchandra Rao who was the collector of Nellore, Ramanujan got a post in Madras Port Trust.

Q.11  What was the salary Ramanujan received at the Madras Port Trust ?

Ans. Ramanujan received a salary of Rs. 30 a month at the Madras Port Trust.

Q.12  Who persuaded Ramanujan to get in touch with Prof. G.H. Hardy ?

Ans. Sir Francis Spring, the chairman of Madras Port Trust and Mr. S. Narayana Aiyar persuaded Ramanujan to get in touch with Prof. G.H. Hardy.