National Mathematics Day serves as a reminder of the essential role mathematics plays in daily life, from academic settings to practical applications. This annual observance underscores the subject’s significance and aims to promote its study and application in various fields.
Mathematics offers more than just numbers and equations; it provides tools and strategies that make everyday tasks manageable and intriguing. Tricks and methodologies associated with mathematics add an element of enjoyment to its study, making it accessible and engaging for learners.
Date: Annually, on December 22, National Mathematics Day honours the birth anniversary of the renowned mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. This year, the observance falls on a Friday.
History: The inception of National Mathematics Day traces back to 2012 when India’s Prime Minister at the time, Dr Manmohan Singh, commemorated Srinivasa Ramanujan’s contributions to the field. The declaration aimed to recognise Ramanujan’s legacy and dedication to mathematics. Since this proclamation, December 22 has been earmarked annually as National Mathematics Day.
Significance: National Mathematics Day serves as a platform for educators, students, and institutions to emphasise the subject’s pivotal role in human advancement. The day encourages collaboration, fostering a growth mindset among learners and educators alike. Across schools, colleges, and other educational establishments, the occasion is marked by workshops and sessions that elucidate mathematical concepts and their practical applications in daily life.
Celebrations: Schools, colleges, and other educational institutions celebrate National Mathematics Day by disseminating information about the subject and instructing people on how to use it in everyday life. Ramanujan contributions to mathematics are honoured on this day, which also honours his legendary status in the field.
Ramanujan Number: When Indian mathematician Srinivas Ramanujan was hospitalised in London in 1918, his longtime friend and coworker G H Hardy paid him a visit. After saying hello and realising that the fellow mathematician had arrived in a taxi with the number “1729,” Hardy blurted out, “It was rather a dull number,” as he entered Ramanujan’s room.
The mathematician said, “No Hardy, it’s a very interesting number,” when Ramanujan learned about it. It is the smallest number that can be expressed in two different ways as the sum of two cubes.” This discussion, which forms the basis of the enigmatic Hardy-Ramanujan number, is described in Robert Knaigel’s biography, “The Man Who Knew Infinity”.
According to Ramanujan, only 1729 is the total of the cubes of two distinct numbers pairs: 123 + 13 and 103 + 93.