Maria Agnesi

         A woman and a mathematician, Maria set the bar for many men and women especially during her time. Maria was born Maria Gaetani Agnesi on May 16, 1718 in the city of Milan. Recognized as a child genius within her large family of twenty-one siblings, she mastered many languages including French, Hebrew, Latin, and Greek by the age of nine.  She published some publications on mathematics , science and philosophy. A very religious woman, Maria spent much time helping the needy and mostly helping women. She was appointed director of Pio Instituto Trivulzo, a home for the ill and terminal women.  

She is well known in the mathematics world as the lady who discovered the Witch of Agnesi.  Maria soon wrote the mathematical book Analytical Institutions and soon Pope Benedict XIV made her the leader of the higher mathematics at the University of Bologna. Agnesi became the first woman mathematician as well as the first woman to write a book on mathematics. Her publications are still used by many scholars today. Maria died January 9, 1799 and her legacy is still strong in the community of mathematics. 

Works Cited

"AGNESI, MARIA GAETANA." University of Alabama Astronomy Home Page. Web. 05 Mar. 2012.    <http://www.astr.ua.edu/4000WS/AGNESI.html>.

Lienhard, John H. "Engines of Our Ingenuity - The Witch of Agnesi." University of Houston. 2012. Web. 05 Mar. 2012. <http://uh.edu/engines/engines_of_our_ingenuity-display_episode.php?episode_number=1741>.

Unlu, Elif. "Maria Gaetana Agnesi." Agnes Scott College. Apr. 1995. Web. 05 Mar. 2012. 

<http://www.agnesscott.edu/lriddle/women/agnesi.htm>.

by Brandy Weeks