Gheorghe Titeica
Encyclopedia
Gheorghe Ţiţeica (ˈɡe̯orɡe t͡siˈt͡sejka; October 4, 1873 in Turnu Severin
–February 5, 1939) publishing as George or Georges Tzitzeica) was a Romania
n mathematician
with important contributions in geometry
. He is recognized as the founder of the Romanian school of differential geometry.
He showed an early interest in science, as well as music and literature. Ţiţeica was an accomplished violinist, having studied music since childhood: music was to remain his hobby. While studying at the Carol I High School
in Craiova
, he contributed to the school's magazine, writing the columns on mathematics and studies of literary critique. After graduation he obtained a scholarship at the preparatory school in Bucharest
, where he also was admitted as a student of the mathematics department of the Faculty of Sciences. In June 1895, he graduated with a Bachelor of Mathematics
.
In the summer of 1896, after a stint as a substitute teacher at the Bucharest theological seminary, Ţiţeica passed his exams for promotion to a secondary school position, becoming teacher in Galaţi
.
In 1897, on the advice of teachers and friends, Ţiţeica completed his studies at a preparatory school in Paris
. Among his mates were Henri Lebesgue
and Paul Montel
. On June 30, 1899 he defended his master's degree
thesis on the framework of oblique curvature, before a board of examiners led by Gaston Darboux.
Upon his return to Romania, Ţiţeica was appointed assistant professor at the University of Bucharest
. He was promoted to full professor on May 4, 1900, retaining this position until his death in 1939. He also taught mathematics at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest
. In 1913, at age 40, Ţiţeica was elected as a permanent member of the Romanian Academy
, replacing Spiru Haret
. Later he was appointed in leading roles: in 1922, vice-president of the scientific section, in 1928, vice-president and in 1929 secretary general. Ţiţeica was also president of the Mathematical Association of Romania, of the Romanian Association of Science and of the Association of the development and the spreading of science. He was a vice-president of the Polytechnics Association of Romania and member of the High Council of Public Teaching.
Ţiţeica was elected correspondent of the Association of Sciences of Liège and doctor honoris causa
of the University of Warsaw
. He was the president of the geometry section at the International Congress of Mathematicians
in Toronto
(1924), Zürich
(1932), and Oslo
(1936). In 1926, 1930 and 1937 he gave a series of lectures as titular professor at the Faculty of Sciences in Sorbonne
. He also gave many lectures at the University of Brussels (1926) and the University of Rome
(1927).
The scientific work of Ţiţeica counts about 400 volumes, of which 96 are scientific projects, most addressing problems of differential geometry. Carrying the researches of the American geometer of German origin Ernest Wilczynski, Ţiţeica discovered a new category of surface
s and a new category of curves which now carry his name. He also studied R
-networks
in n-dimensional space, defined through Laplace equations
.
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Drobeta-Turnu Severin is a city in Mehedinţi County, Oltenia, Romania, on the left bank of the Danube, below the Iron Gates.The city administers three villages: Dudaşu Schelei, Gura Văii, and Schela Cladovei...
–February 5, 1939) publishing as George or Georges Tzitzeica) was a Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n mathematician
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....
with important contributions in geometry
Geometry
Geometry arose as the field of knowledge dealing with spatial relationships. Geometry was one of the two fields of pre-modern mathematics, the other being the study of numbers ....
. He is recognized as the founder of the Romanian school of differential geometry.
He showed an early interest in science, as well as music and literature. Ţiţeica was an accomplished violinist, having studied music since childhood: music was to remain his hobby. While studying at the Carol I High School
Carol I High School
The Carol I National College is a high school located in central Craiova, Romania, on Titu Maiorescu street. It is one of the most prestigious secondary education institutions in Romania.-History:...
in Craiova
Craiova
Craiova , Romania's 6th largest city and capital of Dolj County, is situated near the east bank of the river Jiu in central Oltenia. It is a longstanding political center, and is located at approximately equal distances from the Southern Carpathians and the River Danube . Craiova is the chief...
, he contributed to the school's magazine, writing the columns on mathematics and studies of literary critique. After graduation he obtained a scholarship at the preparatory school in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, where he also was admitted as a student of the mathematics department of the Faculty of Sciences. In June 1895, he graduated with a Bachelor of Mathematics
Bachelor of Mathematics
A Bachelor of Mathematics is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for successfully completing a program of study in mathematics or related disciplines, such as computer science or statistics....
.
In the summer of 1896, after a stint as a substitute teacher at the Bucharest theological seminary, Ţiţeica passed his exams for promotion to a secondary school position, becoming teacher in Galaţi
Galati
Galați is a city and municipality in Romania, the capital of Galați County. Located in the historical region of Moldavia, in the close vicinity of Brăila, Galați is the largest port and sea port on the Danube River and the second largest Romanian port....
.
In 1897, on the advice of teachers and friends, Ţiţeica completed his studies at a preparatory school in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Among his mates were Henri Lebesgue
Henri Lebesgue
Henri Léon Lebesgue was a French mathematician most famous for his theory of integration, which was a generalization of the seventeenth century concept of integration—summing the area between an axis and the curve of a function defined for that axis...
and Paul Montel
Paul Antoine Aristide Montel
Paul Antoine Aristide Montel was a French mathematician. He was born in Nice, France and died in Paris, France. He researched mostly on holomorphic functions in complex analysis....
. On June 30, 1899 he defended his master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
thesis on the framework of oblique curvature, before a board of examiners led by Gaston Darboux.
Upon his return to Romania, Ţiţeica was appointed assistant professor at the University of Bucharest
University of Bucharest
The University of Bucharest , in Romania, is a university founded in 1864 by decree of Prince Alexander John Cuza to convert the former Saint Sava Academy into the current University of Bucharest.-Presentation:...
. He was promoted to full professor on May 4, 1900, retaining this position until his death in 1939. He also taught mathematics at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest
Polytechnic University of Bucharest
Universitatea Politehnica din Bucureşti is a technical university in Bucharest, Romania. It was founded in 1864 based on the older technical school of Gheorghe Lazăr and it was renamed "Politehnica" in 1920.-History:...
. In 1913, at age 40, Ţiţeica was elected as a permanent member of the Romanian Academy
Romanian Academy
The Romanian Academy is a cultural forum founded in Bucharest, Romania, in 1866. It covers the scientific, artistic and literary domains. The academy has 181 acting members who are elected for life....
, replacing Spiru Haret
Spiru Haret
Spiru C. Haret was a Romanian mathematician, astronomer and politician. He made a fundamental contribution to the n-body problem in celestial mechanics by proving that using a third degree approximation for the disturbing forces implies instability of the major axes of the orbits, and by...
. Later he was appointed in leading roles: in 1922, vice-president of the scientific section, in 1928, vice-president and in 1929 secretary general. Ţiţeica was also president of the Mathematical Association of Romania, of the Romanian Association of Science and of the Association of the development and the spreading of science. He was a vice-president of the Polytechnics Association of Romania and member of the High Council of Public Teaching.
Ţiţeica was elected correspondent of the Association of Sciences of Liège and doctor honoris causa
Latin honors
Latin honors are Latin phrases used to indicate the level of academic distinction with which an academic degree was earned. This system is primarily used in the United States, Canada, and in many countries of continental Europe, though some institutions also use the English translation of these...
of the University of Warsaw
University of Warsaw
The University of Warsaw is the largest university in Poland and one of the most prestigious, ranked as best Polish university in 2010 and 2011...
. He was the president of the geometry section at the International Congress of Mathematicians
International Congress of Mathematicians
The International Congress of Mathematicians is the largest conference for the topic of mathematics. It meets once every four years, hosted by the International Mathematical Union ....
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
(1924), Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
(1932), and Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
(1936). In 1926, 1930 and 1937 he gave a series of lectures as titular professor at the Faculty of Sciences in Sorbonne
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
. He also gave many lectures at the University of Brussels (1926) and the University of Rome
University of Rome La Sapienza
The Sapienza University of Rome, officially Sapienza – Università di Roma, formerly known as Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza", is a coeducational, autonomous state university in Rome, Italy...
(1927).
The scientific work of Ţiţeica counts about 400 volumes, of which 96 are scientific projects, most addressing problems of differential geometry. Carrying the researches of the American geometer of German origin Ernest Wilczynski, Ţiţeica discovered a new category of surface
Surface
In mathematics, specifically in topology, a surface is a two-dimensional topological manifold. The most familiar examples are those that arise as the boundaries of solid objects in ordinary three-dimensional Euclidean space R3 — for example, the surface of a ball...
s and a new category of curves which now carry his name. He also studied R
Resistor
A linear resistor is a linear, passive two-terminal electrical component that implements electrical resistance as a circuit element.The current through a resistor is in direct proportion to the voltage across the resistor's terminals. Thus, the ratio of the voltage applied across a resistor's...
-networks
Network theory
Network theory is an area of computer science and network science and part of graph theory. It has application in many disciplines including statistical physics, particle physics, computer science, biology, economics, operations research, and sociology...
in n-dimensional space, defined through Laplace equations
Laplace's equation
In mathematics, Laplace's equation is a second-order partial differential equation named after Pierre-Simon Laplace who first studied its properties. This is often written as:where ∆ = ∇² is the Laplace operator and \varphi is a scalar function...
.
Books
- The projective differential geometry of lattices, 1924
- Introduction to differential projective differential geometry of curves, 1931
External links
- Alfonso F. Agnew, Alexandru Bobe, Wladimir G. Boskoff, and Bogdan D. Suceavă Gheorghe Ţiţeica and the origins of affine differential geometry, Historia Mathematica, Elsevier (Science Direct), Volume 36, Issue 2, May 2009, Pages 161-170.
- Gabriel Teodor Pripoae, Radu Gogu, Gheorghe Tzitzeica - an incomplete bibliography
- Short bio, Mathematics Magazine for Grades 1-12, July 2002
- Short bio