Mamikon A. Mnatsakanian (1942–2021) (Armenian: Մամիկոն Մնացականյան) was an Armenian physicist. In 1959, he discovered a new proof of the Pythagorean theorem.[1]
Mamikon A. Mnatsakanian | |
|---|---|
Մամիկոն Մնացականյան | |
| Born | 1942 |
| Died | 2021 (aged 78–79) |
| Nationality | Armenian |
| Education | Yerevan State University Ph.D. |
| Occupation | physicist |
| Known for | visual calculus |
| Notable work | new proof of the Pythagorean theorem |
He received a Ph.D. in physics in 1969 from Yerevan State University, where he became professor of astrophysics. As an undergraduate he specialized in the development of geometric methods for solving calculus problems by a visual approach that makes no use of formulas, which he later developed into his system of visual calculus.
He was a Project Associate at Project Mathematics! at the California Institute of Technology.
With co-author Tom Apostol, he won the Mathematical Association of America's award in 2005, 2008, and 2010.[2] When Apostol met Mamikon he wrote, "As a teacher of calculus for more than 50 years and as an author of a couple of textbooks on the subject, I was stunned to learn that many standard problems in calculus can be easily solved by an innovative visual approach that makes no use of formulas."[3]
In 2010, he was nominated by Caltech for the Ambartsumians International Prize, awarded annually by the President of Armenia, for his contributions in the field of theoretical astrophysics.[4]
The book, New Horizons in Geometry,[5] the result of 15 years of collaboration between Tom Apostol and Mamikon, has been praised for its originality and clarity.[6]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Mamikon's Proof of the Pythagorean Theorem". Wolfram Demonstrations Project.
- ^ "Paul R. Halmos - Lester R. Ford Awards". Mathematical Association of America.
- ^ "A Visual Approach to Calculus Problems" (PDF). Caltech Magazine.
- ^ Visual Calculus and Theoretical Astrophysics
- ^ "Bookstore". American Mathematical Society.
- ^ "Bookstore". American Mathematical Society.
External links edit
- http://www.its.caltech.edu/~mamikon/calculus.html (Visual Calculus)
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