Paolo Ruffini (September 22, 1765 – May 10, 1822) was an Italian mathematician and philosopher.
By 1788 he had earned university degrees in philosophy, medicine/surgery, and mathematics. Among his work was an incomplete proof (Abel–Ruffini theorem) that quintic (and higher-order) equations cannot be solved by radicals (1799), and Ruffini's rule which is a quick method for polynomial division. Ruffini also made contributions to group theory in addition to probability and quadrature of the circle.
He practiced as both a professor of mathematics (University of Modena) and a doctor including scientific work on typhus.
Read more about Paolo Ruffini: Group Theory, Publications
Famous quotes containing the word paolo:
“The power of consumer goods ... has been engendered by the so-called liberal and progressive demands of freedom, and, by appropriating them, has emptied them of their meaning, and changed their nature.”
—Pier Paolo Pasolini (1922–1975)