Augustus De Morgan: The Mathematician Who Shaped Modern Logic And Algebra
Today marks the birth anniversary of Augustus De Morgan, one of the most influential figures in the history of mathematics and logic. Born on June 27, 1806, in Madurai, India, De Morgan went on to become a British mathematician and logician whose groundbreaking work still shapes modern thinking.
According to MacTutor, Augustus lost the sight of his right eye shortly after birth when both eyes were affected with Indian "sore eye". One of his eyes was saved but he became blind in one eye. He was baptised on 20 October 1806 at Fort St George, Madras, India. When seven months old, he returned to England with his parents, and his sisters Eliza and Georgina.
De Morgan is best known for formulating De Morgan's Laws, which are fundamental rules in Boolean algebra and logic. These laws describe how mathematical statements and their negations relate, forming a crucial basis for digital electronics and computer programming today.
Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, De Morgan later became the first professor of mathematics at University College London. He was known not only for his academic brilliance but also for his efforts to make mathematics more accessible. His textbooks were some of the first to explain complex concepts in plain language, encouraging broader understanding.
De Morgan also introduced the term "mathematical induction" and made significant contributions to the study of symbolic logic. Though he lived in the 19th century, his insights laid the groundwork for future developments in computer science, particularly in programming and circuit design.
Beyond his academic achievements, De Morgan was known for his wit, sharp reasoning, and belief in intellectual integrity. He was also one of the founders of the London Mathematical Society.
As we celebrate his birthday today, Augustus De Morgan remains a shining example of how mathematical insight can transcend centuries, influencing both theoretical and practical aspects of our digital world.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
41 minutes ago
- India Gazette
India's second astronaut in space enters ISS (VIDEO)
SpaceX's Axiom Mission 4, carrying Shubhanshu Shukla, has successfully docked at the International Space Station Shubhanshu Shukla has become the second Indian ever and first since 1984 to travel to space. SpaceX's Axiom Mission 4, carrying the Indian Air Force officer, successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, SpaceX has said. Shukla was selected for the South Asian nation's first human spaceflight mission to the ISS. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on Wednesday, following nearly a month of delays. Shukla became the first Indian to travel to space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's spaceflight aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in 1984. The air force officer, who was chosen by the Indian Department of Space as the prime astronaut for the mission, underwent an extensive training program with three other astronaut designates at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center near Moscow in 2020. On Thursday, he sent greetings from space with a 'namaskar', a traditional Indian greeting. "Since yesterday, I've been told that I'm sleeping a lot, which is a good sign," Shukla said on a SpaceX livestream. "I'm getting used to this quite well, enjoying the views, enjoying the entire experience." He added that he was "learning like a baby... how to walk and eat in space... It's good to make mistakes, but it is better to see someone else do that, too." The Axiom Mission 4 carried Shukla and three other crew members to the ISS. Aboard the ISS, Shukla will conduct research on microscopic organisms known as tardigrades to understand how living things adapt to microgravity. Muscle regeneration, the growth of sprouts, the survival of tiny aquatic organisms, and human interaction with electronic displays in microgravity will also be studied, as well as the effects of microgravity and space radiation on edible microalgae, a potential food source for future space missions.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Feeling proud: Parents and teacher of Shubhanshu Shukla celebrate his journey to ISS
Lucknow: The parents and teacher of India's second astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, on Friday expressed pride after he successfully reached the International Space Station (ISS). Speaking with IANS, they shared their emotions and reactions, highlighting their pride and thanking God for his safe arrival. IAF officer Shukla made history as the first Indian to reach the ISS and only the second Indian to travel to space, nearly 40 years after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's mission with the Soviet space programme in 1984. He travelled aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, launched on a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The Axiom 4 mission, which involves Axiom Space, NASA, and SpaceX, is historic for India, Poland, and Hungary - the three countries that sent their astronauts to space in decades. Shukla's mother, Asha Shukla, shared her joy and relief: "I am feeling very good. I spoke with him once after he reached space. I hope he returns safely. I felt proud when he landed in space. It's a proud moment for India. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath came to meet us and offered his congratulations. I also feel that Prime Minister Narendra Modi played an important role in this journey." His father, Shambhu Dayal Sharma, said: "I am very happy and thankful to God for his safe journey. When he was going, he told us to stay happy and not to worry. I pray for his safety and success. CM Yogi came and congratulated us. He said it's a proud moment that a son of Uttar Pradesh has gone to space. He also assured that steps will be taken to encourage such achievements in the future." Shukla's former teacher, Nageshwar Prasad Shukla, also shared memories associated with him. "He was always a top student and had a dream to join the NDA. I spoke to him five months ago. We had some idea about his selection, but it became official when Prime Minister Modi announced it. He was shy in nature back then, but we've seen a transformation over 22 years. His confidence has grown tremendously. I pray for the success of his mission." As the nation celebrates this milestone, pride runs high in his hometown and among those who shaped his journey.
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
One Year of Kalki 2898 AD: How the movie redefined Indian sci-fi and cinema's global ambitions
A year ago, a myth met a machine and Indian cinema changed forever. On June 27, 2024, Kalki 2898 AD stormed theatres like a cinematic avatar brimming with ambition. Today, on its first anniversary, we revisit the film that became a rare phenomenon as Indian cinema didn't just catch up to global standards — it set some of its own. Combining Mahabharata-grade myth with Star Wars-level spectacle, Kalki 2898 AD emerged as a landmark moment: a Rs 1,000-crore wonder that dared to dream of the future through the lens of ancient legend. From a cursed Ashwatthama to a dystopian Kashi, from glowing scimitars to flying fortresses, this was an audacious act of genre-bending worldbuilding. Mahabharata meets Star Wars Set 6,000 years after the Mahabharata war, the film spins a wild but compelling hypothesis — what if Lord Vishnu's final avatar, Kalki, was yet to be born? What if his arrival was prophesied in a future ruled by a tyrant who exploits women for a high-tech birth experiment? From Amitabh Bachchan's brooding Ashwatthama, wandering Earth for redemption, to Deepika Padukone's mysterious mother-to-be carrying a divine child, to Kamal Haasan's chilling portrayal of the god-king Supreme Yaskin, Kalki wove a web of gods, rebels, labs, and lore with jaw-dropping ambition. And in the middle of it all, Prabhas, the messianic hero navigates faith, fate, and futuristic warfare. Director Nag Ashwin called it 'Mahabharata meets Star Wars,' turbocharged with temple tech and AI chariots. From Comic-Con to cinematic canon Before the film's release, it made history at San Diego Comic-Con 2023, becoming the first Indian movie ever to be featured in the legendary Hall H. Drummers pounded. Fans cheered. Prabhas, Deepika, Kamal Haasan, and Nag Ashwin stood shoulder-to-shoulder with global legends, delivering Indian cinema's most direct handshake with the West. Kalki 2898 AD's visuals that shook the screens A still of Deepika Padukone from Kalki 2898 AD Critics couldn't look away. Packed with neon haze, dusty chaos and saber-swinging swagger, Kalki 2898 AD brought a distinctly Indian twist to its sci-fi elements. The reviewers raved about its 'cinematic maximalism' and its 'Indofuturist aesthetic'. Across screens — standard, IMAX, and 3D — the film dazzled with scenes of gravity-defying pyramids, robotic sidekicks, and mandala-coded force fields. Kalki 2898 AD's box office was on fire Kalki 2898 AD walked the box office like a god among men with a net collection of ₹615 crore in India and an astronomical ₹1,030 crore+ worldwide. Standing tall as 2024's top Indian blockbusters, it is only the 7th Indian film to cross the ₹1,000 crore milestone. Made on a massive ₹600 crore budget, it became the most expensive Indian film ever produced and justified every rupee with global returns. India's sci-fi goes global Surpassing Hrithik Roshan's Fighter, Kalki 2898 AD becomes the biggest Hindi opener of 2024 Global critics marvelled at its scale, vision, and genre-bending boldness. One international review called it 'a wild, maximalist sci-fi hoot that dares to imagine the Mahabharata in space' and 'a game-changer for Indian VFX'. Kalki 2898 AD has left more than just sand trails and scorched skies. It opened doors of genre fusion with its mytho-sci-fi blend that has inspired multiple studios to explore Indian epics in new-age formats. Through Indofuturism, the film coined a visual grammar where tradition meets tech. It stoked hopes for a franchise with fans eagerly awaiting Part 2, teased in the closing moments. And if this was just the beginning, the avatar of tomorrow is only getting started.
