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{{short description|American mathematicians}} |
{{short description|American mathematicians}} |
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'''David Volfovich Chudnovsky''' (born January 22, 1947 |
'''David Volfovich Chudnovsky'''{{efn|{{langx|uk|Давид Вольфович Чудновський|{{transliteration|uk|ukrainian|Davyd Volfovych Chudnovskyi}}}}}} (born January 22, 1947) and '''Gregory Volfovich Chudnovsky'''{{efn|{{langx|uk|Григорій Вольфович Чудновський|{{transliteration|uk|ukrainian|Hryhorii Volfovych Chudnovskyi}}}}}} (born April 17, 1952) are American [[mathematician|mathematicians]] and engineers known for their world-record mathematical calculations and developing the [[Chudnovsky algorithm]] used to calculate the digits of [[pi|{{pi}}]] with extreme precision. Both were born in [[Kiev]], [[Ukrainian SSR]], [[Soviet Union]] (now [[Kyiv]], [[Ukraine]]). |
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==Careers in mathematics== |
==Careers in mathematics== |
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As a child, Gregory Chudnovsky was given a copy of ''[[What Is Mathematics?]]'' by his father (Volf Grigorovich Chudnovski, Soviet-Ukrainian professor of technical sciences) and decided that he wanted to be a mathematician. As a high schooler, he solved [[Hilbert's tenth problem]] |
As a child, Gregory Chudnovsky was given a copy of ''[[What Is Mathematics?]]'' by his father (Volf Grigorovich Chudnovski, a Soviet-Ukrainian professor of technical sciences) and decided that he wanted to be a mathematician. As a high schooler, he solved [[Hilbert's tenth problem]], shortly after [[Yuri Matiyasevich]] had solved it.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chudnovsky's contribution to MRDP|author=Martin Davis|accessdate=27 November 2022|publisher=FOM mailing list|date=February 10, 1998|url=https://cs.nyu.edu/pipermail/fom/1998-February/001172.html}}</ref> He received a mathematics degree from [[Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv|Kyiv State University]] in 1974 and a [[PhD]] the following year from the [[NASU Institute of Mathematics|Institute of Mathematics]], [[National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine]].<ref name="macarthur" /> |
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In part to avoid [[History of the Jews in Ukraine|religious persecution]] and in part to seek better medical care for Gregory, who had been diagnosed with [[myasthenia gravis]], a [[neuromuscular disease]], the Chudnovsky family applied in 1976 for permission to emigrate from the [[Soviet Union]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kiernan |first1=Vincent |title=With Abstruse Mathematics as a Tool, 2 Brothers Tackle Real-World Problems |url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/with-abstruse-mathematics-as-a-tool-2-brothers-tackle-real-world-problems/ |accessdate=19 October 2020 |work=[[The Chronicle of Higher Education]] |date=March 20, 1998}}</ref><ref name="macarthur">{{cite web |title=Gregory V. Chudnovsky - MacArthur Foundation |url=https://www.macfound.org/fellows/75/ |website=www.macfound.org |publisher=[[MacArthur Foundation]] |accessdate=19 October 2020}}</ref> Although the family was harassed by the [[KGB]] for attempting to leave the country, the brothers were eventually able to secure their emigration with the help of [[United States Senator]] [[Henry M. Jackson]] and mathematician [[Edwin Hewitt]].<ref name="preston" /> |
In part to avoid [[History of the Jews in Ukraine|religious persecution]] and in part to seek better medical care for Gregory, who had been diagnosed with [[myasthenia gravis]], a [[neuromuscular disease]], the Chudnovsky family applied in 1976 for permission to emigrate from the [[Soviet Union]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kiernan |first1=Vincent |title=With Abstruse Mathematics as a Tool, 2 Brothers Tackle Real-World Problems |url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/with-abstruse-mathematics-as-a-tool-2-brothers-tackle-real-world-problems/ |accessdate=19 October 2020 |work=[[The Chronicle of Higher Education]] |date=March 20, 1998}}</ref><ref name="macarthur">{{cite web |title=Gregory V. Chudnovsky - MacArthur Foundation |url=https://www.macfound.org/fellows/75/ |website=www.macfound.org |publisher=[[MacArthur Foundation]] |accessdate=19 October 2020}}</ref> Although the family was harassed by the [[KGB]] for attempting to leave the country, the brothers were eventually able to secure their emigration with the help of [[United States Senator]] [[Henry M. Jackson]] and mathematician [[Edwin Hewitt]].<ref name="preston">{{cite book |last1=Preston |first1=Richard |title=Panic in Level 4: Cannibals, Killer Viruses, and Other Journeys to the Edge of Science |date=2008 |publisher=Random House Publishing Group |isbn=978-1-58836-728-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hrdqCFEeFJYC |accessdate=19 October 2020 |language=en}}</ref> |
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A 1992 article in ''[[The New Yorker]]'' quoted the opinion of several mathematicians that Gregory Chudnovsky was one of the world's best living mathematicians. David Chudnovsky works closely with and assists his brother Gregory |
A 1992 article in ''[[The New Yorker]]'' quoted the opinion of several mathematicians that Gregory Chudnovsky was one of the world's best living mathematicians. David Chudnovsky works closely with and assists his brother Gregory.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1992/03/02/the-mountains-of-pi |title=The Mountains of Pi |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |first=Richard |last=Preston |date=March 1, 1992}}</ref> |
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Despite their accomplishments and the attention brought to them by their profile in ''The New Yorker'', the Chudnovsky brothers largely worked alone for decades. A 1997 [[Karen Arenson]] article in ''[[The New York Times]]'' theorized that this was due to some combination of the brothers' lack of a specialization (they worked on topics including [[number theory]], [[applied physics]] and [[computer science|computers]]), Gregory's medical condition, their refusal to leave |
Despite their accomplishments and the attention brought to them by their profile in ''The New Yorker'', the Chudnovsky brothers largely worked alone for decades. A 1997 [[Karen Arenson]] article in ''[[The New York Times]]'' theorized that this was due to some combination of the brothers' lack of a specialization (they worked on topics including [[number theory]], [[applied physics]] and [[computer science|computers]]), Gregory's medical condition, their refusal to leave [[New York City]] and their insistence on being hired together. In the summer of 1997, they were hired as professors at [[New York University Tandon School of Engineering|Polytechnic University]] in [[Brooklyn]] after [[borough president]] [[Howard Golden]] helped find funding for their salaries.<ref name="arenson">{{cite news |last1=Arenson |first1=Karen W. |title=For Brilliant Brothers, Joining Mathematics Faculty Is a Quantum Leap |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/24/nyregion/for-brilliant-brothers-joining-mathematics-faculty-is-a-quantum-leap.html |accessdate=19 October 2020 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=24 December 1997}}</ref> |
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The Chudnovsky brothers have held records, at different times, for computing [[pi|{{pi}}]] to the largest number of places, including two billion digits in the early 1990s on a supercomputer they built (dubbed "m-zero") in their apartment in [[Manhattan]]. In 1987, the Chudnovsky brothers developed the algorithm (now called the [[Chudnovsky algorithm]]) that they used to break several {{pi}} computation records. Today, this algorithm is used by [[Mathematica]] to calculate {{pi}}, and has continued to be used by others who have achieved [[world record]]s [[Chronology of computation of π|in pi calculation]]. |
The Chudnovsky brothers have held records, at different times, for computing [[pi|{{pi}}]] to the largest number of places, including two billion digits in the early 1990s on a supercomputer they built (dubbed "m-zero") in their apartment in [[Manhattan]]. In 1987, the Chudnovsky brothers developed the algorithm (now called the [[Chudnovsky algorithm]]) that they used to break several {{pi}} computation records. Today, this algorithm is used by [[Mathematica]] to calculate {{pi}}, and has continued to be used by others who have achieved [[world record]]s [[Chronology of computation of π|in pi calculation]]. |
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| date = 2005-07-26 |
| date = 2005-07-26 |
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| url =https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3210/04.html}}</ref> [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] aired a program on its science show ''[[Nova (American TV series)|Nova]]'', hosted by [[Robert Krulwich]], that described the difficulties in photographing the tapestries and the math used to fix them.<ref> |
| url =https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3210/04.html}}</ref> [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] aired a program on its science show ''[[Nova (American TV series)|Nova]]'', hosted by [[Robert Krulwich]], that described the difficulties in photographing the tapestries and the math used to fix them.<ref> |
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{{cite |
{{cite magazine | first = Richard |last = Preston |authorlink=Richard Preston| title = Capturing the Unicorn | url = http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/04/11/050411fa_fact | magazine = The New Yorker | date = 2005-04-11 }} |
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</ref> |
</ref> |
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The brothers later became Distinguished Industry Professors at the [[New York University Tandon School of Engineering]]. Gregory was awarded the [[MacArthur Fellowship]] (also known as the "Genius Grant") in 1981. |
The brothers later became Distinguished Industry Professors at the [[New York University Tandon School of Engineering]], where they work on subjects such as [[graph isomorphism]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://engineering.nyu.edu/our-engineers/faculty/chudnovsky-brothers | title=The Chudnovsky Brothers | NYU Tandon School of Engineering }}</ref> Gregory was awarded the [[MacArthur Fellowship]] (also known as the "Genius Grant") in 1981. |
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==Notes== |
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{{notelist}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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[[Category:MacArthur Fellows]] |
[[Category:MacArthur Fellows]] |
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[[Category:Scientists from Kyiv]] |
[[Category:Scientists from Kyiv]] |
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[[Category:Pi]] |
[[Category:Pi-related people]] |
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[[Category:Polytechnic Institute of New York University faculty]] |
[[Category:Polytechnic Institute of New York University faculty]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Brother duos]] |
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[[Category:Ukrainian Jews]] |
[[Category:Ukrainian Jews]] |
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[[Category:Ukrainian emigrants to the United States]] |
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[[Category:Engineers from Kyiv]] |
[[Category:Engineers from Kyiv]] |
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[[Category:21st-century Ukrainian engineers]] |
[[Category:21st-century Ukrainian engineers]] |
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Latest revision as of 17:24, 25 October 2024
David Volfovich Chudnovsky[a] (born January 22, 1947) and Gregory Volfovich Chudnovsky[b] (born April 17, 1952) are American mathematicians and engineers known for their world-record mathematical calculations and developing the Chudnovsky algorithm used to calculate the digits of π with extreme precision. Both were born in Kiev, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Kyiv, Ukraine).
Careers in mathematics
[edit]As a child, Gregory Chudnovsky was given a copy of What Is Mathematics? by his father (Volf Grigorovich Chudnovski, a Soviet-Ukrainian professor of technical sciences) and decided that he wanted to be a mathematician. As a high schooler, he solved Hilbert's tenth problem, shortly after Yuri Matiyasevich had solved it.[1] He received a mathematics degree from Kyiv State University in 1974 and a PhD the following year from the Institute of Mathematics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.[2]
In part to avoid religious persecution and in part to seek better medical care for Gregory, who had been diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular disease, the Chudnovsky family applied in 1976 for permission to emigrate from the Soviet Union.[3][2] Although the family was harassed by the KGB for attempting to leave the country, the brothers were eventually able to secure their emigration with the help of United States Senator Henry M. Jackson and mathematician Edwin Hewitt.[4]
A 1992 article in The New Yorker quoted the opinion of several mathematicians that Gregory Chudnovsky was one of the world's best living mathematicians. David Chudnovsky works closely with and assists his brother Gregory.[5]
Despite their accomplishments and the attention brought to them by their profile in The New Yorker, the Chudnovsky brothers largely worked alone for decades. A 1997 Karen Arenson article in The New York Times theorized that this was due to some combination of the brothers' lack of a specialization (they worked on topics including number theory, applied physics and computers), Gregory's medical condition, their refusal to leave New York City and their insistence on being hired together. In the summer of 1997, they were hired as professors at Polytechnic University in Brooklyn after borough president Howard Golden helped find funding for their salaries.[6]
The Chudnovsky brothers have held records, at different times, for computing π to the largest number of places, including two billion digits in the early 1990s on a supercomputer they built (dubbed "m-zero") in their apartment in Manhattan. In 1987, the Chudnovsky brothers developed the algorithm (now called the Chudnovsky algorithm) that they used to break several π computation records. Today, this algorithm is used by Mathematica to calculate π, and has continued to be used by others who have achieved world records in pi calculation.
The brothers also assisted the Metropolitan Museum of Art around 2003 in the merging of a series of digital photographs taken of The Hunt of the Unicorn tapestries during their cleaning.[7] PBS aired a program on its science show Nova, hosted by Robert Krulwich, that described the difficulties in photographing the tapestries and the math used to fix them.[8]
The brothers later became Distinguished Industry Professors at the New York University Tandon School of Engineering, where they work on subjects such as graph isomorphism.[9] Gregory was awarded the MacArthur Fellowship (also known as the "Genius Grant") in 1981.
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Martin Davis (February 10, 1998). "Chudnovsky's contribution to MRDP". FOM mailing list. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
- ^ a b "Gregory V. Chudnovsky - MacArthur Foundation". www.macfound.org. MacArthur Foundation. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- ^ Kiernan, Vincent (March 20, 1998). "With Abstruse Mathematics as a Tool, 2 Brothers Tackle Real-World Problems". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- ^ Preston, Richard (2008). Panic in Level 4: Cannibals, Killer Viruses, and Other Journeys to the Edge of Science. Random House Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-58836-728-0. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- ^ Preston, Richard (March 1, 1992). "The Mountains of Pi". The New Yorker.
- ^ Arenson, Karen W. (24 December 1997). "For Brilliant Brothers, Joining Mathematics Faculty Is a Quantum Leap". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- ^ "NOVA Science NOW". PBS. 2005-07-26.
- ^ Preston, Richard (2005-04-11). "Capturing the Unicorn". The New Yorker.
- ^ "The Chudnovsky Brothers | NYU Tandon School of Engineering".
External links
[edit]- Chudnovsky brothers at the Mathematics Genealogy Project
- "Gregory Chudnovsky". NYU faculty page
- "David Chudnovsky". NYU faculty page