Sofia Kovalevskaia

(1850-1891)
(October 1998)

Vital Life Statistics

Sofia Kovalevskaia was born in Moscow, Russia, on January 15, 1850. She displayed an interest in mathematics from an early age. She studied differential and integral analysis from her father's calculus lecture notes that were used as wallpaper in the family house when 11. She was given a special tutor to teach her higher mathematics.

Although Kovalevskaia wanted and attempted to attend college, she was not allowed to study abroad, like talented 19th century Russian boys did. She entered a "false" marriage at age 18 to be able to move to Europe to go to school. After attending college, she returned to Russia, but her husband wanted her to stay at home. She did not practice math for six years.

Kovalevskaia gave birth to a daughter in 1878. Also in 1878, she returned to work after her husband lost all their money. She applied to teach at universities, but was refused because none wanted to hire a married woman and mother. Finally, she found employment at Sweden's Stockholm University after her husband died in 1883.

Sofia Kovalevskaia died on February 10, 1891, in Stockholm, Sweden, of pneumonia.

Achievements

Sofia Kovalevskaia was the first woman to apply for a mathematics degree at the University of Goettingen in Germany. She was not accepted at the university, but was allowed to tutor under one of the university's math professors. She wrote a paper there that became an important part of the theory of differential equations.

Also during her career, Kovalevskaia improved on Laplace and Maxwell on the mathematical consideration of Saturn's rings. And while in Sweden, she discovered how to solve equations of motion.

Kovalevskaia struggled throughout her whole life to obtain the best education possible. Her attitude of settling for nothing but the best opened doors to many women at universities.

Awards and Honors

Sofia Kovalevskaia has many awards. Her "Kovalevskaia top" is still used today to study the dynamics of motion. The University of Goettingen awarded her a Ph.D. from in absentia. Then in 1886, she was awarded the Prix Bordin for her paper M�moire sur un cas particulier du probl�me de le rotation d'un corps pesant autour d'un point fixe, ou l'int�gration s'effectue � l'aide des fonctions ultraelliptiques du temps. The prize was increased from 3,500 to 5,000 francs in recognition of the brilliance of the piece. Further research on the problem of the study of a rigid body won her a prize from the Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1889.

Kovalevskaia also had a crater on the moon named after her, Crater Kovalevskaia.

Source:

1. Noble, Abbey. "Spinning Equations: Sofia Kovalevskaia (1850-1891)." New Moon: The Magazine for Girls and Their Dreams January/February 1998: 32.
2. "Sofia Kovalevskaya," History of Mathematics.
3. "Sonya Kovalevsky," University of Virginia Chemical Engineering.
4. Wilson, Becky. "Sofia Kovalevskaya," Biographies of Women Mathematicians.
5. The photograph of Sofia Kovalevskaia is believed to be in the public domain. If you own copyright to this photograph please send an email to www@physics.purdue.edu and the photograph will be removed immediately.