Ramanujan's Place in the World of Mathematics

<p>This book is a collection of articles, all by the author, on the Indian mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan as well as on some of the greatest mathematicians in history whose lives and works have things in common with Ramanujan. It presents a unique comparative study of Ramanujan’s spectacular discoveries and remarkable life with the monumental contributions of various mathematical luminaries, some of whom, like Ramanujan, overcame great difficulties in life. Also, among the articles are reviews of three important books on Ramanujan’s mathematics and life. In addition, some aspects of Ramanujan’s contributions, such as his remarkable formulae for the number π, his pathbreaking work in the theory of partitions, and his fundamental observations on quadratic forms, are discussed. Finally, the book describes various current efforts to ensure that the legacy of Ramanujan will be preserved and continue to thrive in the future.^ Thus the book is an enlightening study of Ramanujan as a mathematician and a human being.</p><p><p><i>From the Foreword by George Andrews</i>—<i>one of the greatest </i><i>experts on Ramanujan's work</i>: “Alladi, who has worked in several areas of number t