D. R. Fulkerson
Encyclopedia
Delbert Ray Fulkerson was a mathematician
who co-developed the Ford-Fulkerson algorithm
, one of the most well-known algorithm
s to solve the maximum flow problem
in networks
.
Fulkerson was brought up in small-town southern Illinois
and became an undergraduate at Southern Illinois University
. His academic career was interrupted by military service during World War II
. Having returned to complete his degree after the war he went on to do a PhD in mathematics at the University of Wisconsin under the supervision of Cyrus MacDuffee, a student of L. E. Dickson.
Fulkerson received his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
in 1951. He was then with the mathematics department at the Rand Corporation until 1971 when he moved to Cornell as the Maxwell Upson Professor of Engineering. He remained at Cornell until he committed suicide in 1976.
In 1956, he published his noted paper on the Ford-Fulkerson algorithm
together with Lester Randolph Ford. In 1979, the renowned Fulkerson Prize
was established which is now awarded every three years for outstanding papers in discrete mathematics
jointly by the Mathematical Programming Society
and the American Mathematical Society
.
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
who co-developed the Ford-Fulkerson algorithm
Ford-Fulkerson algorithm
The Ford–Fulkerson Method computes the maximum flow in a flow network. It was published in 1956...
, one of the most well-known algorithm
Algorithm
In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm is an effective method expressed as a finite list of well-defined instructions for calculating a function. Algorithms are used for calculation, data processing, and automated reasoning...
s to solve the maximum flow problem
Maximum flow problem
In optimization theory, the maximum flow problem is to find a feasible flow through a single-source, single-sink flow network that is maximum....
in networks
Network flow
In graph theory, a flow network is a directed graph where each edge has a capacity and each edge receives a flow. The amount of flow on an edge cannot exceed the capacity of the edge. Often in Operations Research, a directed graph is called a network, the vertices are called nodes and the edges are...
.
Fulkerson was brought up in small-town southern Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
and became an undergraduate at Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
. His academic career was interrupted by military service during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Having returned to complete his degree after the war he went on to do a PhD in mathematics at the University of Wisconsin under the supervision of Cyrus MacDuffee, a student of L. E. Dickson.
Fulkerson received his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
in 1951. He was then with the mathematics department at the Rand Corporation until 1971 when he moved to Cornell as the Maxwell Upson Professor of Engineering. He remained at Cornell until he committed suicide in 1976.
In 1956, he published his noted paper on the Ford-Fulkerson algorithm
together with Lester Randolph Ford. In 1979, the renowned Fulkerson Prize
Fulkerson Prize
The Fulkerson Prize for outstanding papers in the area of discrete mathematics is sponsored jointly by the Mathematical Programming Society and the American Mathematical Society . Up to three awards of $1500 each are presented at each International Symposium of the MPS...
was established which is now awarded every three years for outstanding papers in discrete mathematics
Discrete mathematics
Discrete mathematics is the study of mathematical structures that are fundamentally discrete rather than continuous. In contrast to real numbers that have the property of varying "smoothly", the objects studied in discrete mathematics – such as integers, graphs, and statements in logic – do not...
jointly by the Mathematical Programming Society
Mathematical Programming Society
Known as the Mathematical Programming Society until 2010, the Mathematical Optimization Society is an international association of researchers active in optimization...
and the American Mathematical Society
American Mathematical Society
The American Mathematical Society is an association of professional mathematicians dedicated to the interests of mathematical research and scholarship, which it does with various publications and conferences as well as annual monetary awards and prizes to mathematicians.The society is one of the...
.