Mathukumalli V. Subbarao
Encyclopedia
Mathukumalli Venkata Subbarao was an India
n mathematician
, specialising in number theory
. He was a long-time resident of Edmonton, Canada.
Subbarao was born in the small village of Yazali, near Bapatla
, Guntur district
, Andhra Pradesh
, India
. He received his master's degree
from Presidency College, Madras
in 1941. He went on to complete a doctorate
in functional analysis
, advised by Ramaswamy S. Vaidyanathaswamy
. He worked at Presidency College, Madras, Sri Venkateswara University
, and the University of Missouri
, before moving in 1963 to the University of Alberta
, where he spent the rest of his professional career.
In the 1960s Subbarao began to study the congruence
properties of the partition function, which became one of his favourite problems. He also researched special classes of divisor
s and the corresponding analogues of divisor function
s and perfect number
s, such as those arising from the exponential divisors ("e-divisors") which he defined. Many other mathematicians have published papers building on his work in these subjects.
A prolific collaborator, Subbarao has Erdős number
1, and more than 40 joint authors. He continued producing mathematics papers into the final years of his life. He died in Edmonton
at the age of 84.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
, specialising in number theory
Number theory
Number theory is a branch of pure mathematics devoted primarily to the study of the integers. Number theorists study prime numbers as well...
. He was a long-time resident of Edmonton, Canada.
Subbarao was born in the small village of Yazali, near Bapatla
Bapatla
Bapatla, formerly known as Bhavapuri, is a town and mandal of Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located south of Guntur City on the East Coast.-Assembly constituency:Bapatla is an assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh....
, Guntur district
Guntur district
Guntur district is located in Andhra Pradesh along the east coast of Bay of Bengal. The district has a coastline of around 100 kilometers. Guntur City is the largest city in the district and administrative center of Guntur District. The district is a major center for learning.-Etymology:There are...
, Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He received his master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from Presidency College, Madras
Presidency College, Chennai
Presidency College is an arts, law and science college in the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India. Established as the Madras Preparatory School on October 15, 1840 and later, upgraded to a high school and then, graduate college, the Presidency College is one of the oldest government arts colleges...
in 1941. He went on to complete a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in functional analysis
Functional analysis
Functional analysis is a branch of mathematical analysis, the core of which is formed by the study of vector spaces endowed with some kind of limit-related structure and the linear operators acting upon these spaces and respecting these structures in a suitable sense...
, advised by Ramaswamy S. Vaidyanathaswamy
Ramaswamy S. Vaidyanathaswamy
Ramaswamy S. Vaidyanathaswamy was a professor of mathematics at Madras University. He contributed extensively to point-set topology, and wrote a well-known textbook on the subject , "Set Topology", which was first published in 1947...
. He worked at Presidency College, Madras, Sri Venkateswara University
Sri Venkateswara University
Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, is a state university, which was established in 1954, in the famous temple city of Tirupati, South India, under the auspices of Late Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, and with support of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams...
, and the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
, before moving in 1963 to the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
, where he spent the rest of his professional career.
In the 1960s Subbarao began to study the congruence
Modular arithmetic
In mathematics, modular arithmetic is a system of arithmetic for integers, where numbers "wrap around" after they reach a certain value—the modulus....
properties of the partition function, which became one of his favourite problems. He also researched special classes of divisor
Divisor
In mathematics, a divisor of an integer n, also called a factor of n, is an integer which divides n without leaving a remainder.-Explanation:...
s and the corresponding analogues of divisor function
Divisor function
In mathematics, and specifically in number theory, a divisor function is an arithmetical function related to the divisors of an integer. When referred to as the divisor function, it counts the number of divisors of an integer. It appears in a number of remarkable identities, including relationships...
s and perfect number
Perfect number
In number theory, a perfect number is a positive integer that is equal to the sum of its proper positive divisors, that is, the sum of its positive divisors excluding the number itself . Equivalently, a perfect number is a number that is half the sum of all of its positive divisors i.e...
s, such as those arising from the exponential divisors ("e-divisors") which he defined. Many other mathematicians have published papers building on his work in these subjects.
A prolific collaborator, Subbarao has Erdős number
Erdos number
The Erdős number describes the "collaborative distance" between a person and mathematician Paul Erdős, as measured by authorship of mathematical papers.The same principle has been proposed for other eminent persons in other fields.- Overview :...
1, and more than 40 joint authors. He continued producing mathematics papers into the final years of his life. He died in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
at the age of 84.