Blaise Pascal

Valerie M. Negrón Rivera

Pascal was a mathematician, physicist, philosopher and Christian writer. His contributions to mathematics and the natural sciences include the design and construction of mechanical calculators, contributions to the theory of probability, fluids research and clarification of concepts such as pressure and vacuum. Born in 1623 in Clermont, France.  At a young age he lost his mother and in 1632 moved with his father to Paris. His father was a scientist and had certain mindset about the education of his son not to study maths until the age 15. Although his father did not allow him to study mathematics, Pascal had a curiosity in geometry and at 12 years demonstrated that the sums of the interior angles of a triangle were equal to two right angles.  At 17, he discovered several theorems related to descriptive geometry. An example of this would be Pascal's mystic hexagon. In 1640 Pascal published "Essay on Conic Sections" in that moment he started an interest in analytic geometry and his interest in Physics increased as well. In 1642, Pascal invented the first digital calculator (roue pascaline) in order to help his father in the Collection of Taxes. As time passed Pascal began doing experiments on atmospheric pressure. In 1646, his father had an accident, while in recovery they began going to the teachings of Jansen Dutch reformist bishop. Since then the father, the son and daughters became devotee and even Jacqueline decided to become bride of Christ (nun), while Pascal, suffered paralysis phenomena in his legs with permanent pain, interpreted his illness as a divine sign and began to lead an ascetic life. In 1647 demonstrated the existence of a vacuum in space. His ideas were not well received by many theologians and researchers, including Descartes who repeatedly met in Paris in late September 1647 when he published his essay "New Experiments about Empty." In 1656 he wrote "The Treaty Equilibrium of liquids ". Also proposed principles for the study of hydrostatic. The last significant contribution Pascal was his work on cycloid, which is the site of a point on the circumference of a circle that is rolling along a straight line. Pascal solved this problem in 1658, when due to illness was unable to sleep at night. Also applied to calculate Cavalier indivisibles to calculate the area of any segment of the circle and the center of gravity of the segment. Pascal also calculated the surface areas and volumes of revolutions of the shaft cycloid "x" and challenged many scientists of the time to solve this problem, but there were few who accepted the challenge and solved the problem. Finally he published the solution to the problem in "Letters to Carcavi". In 1654, he had a close brush with death when he was involved in an accident which barely managed to escape. Although the accident miraculously caused no physical damage, this profoundly influenced the thought of Pascal. The November 23, 1654, shortly after the accident, Pascal lived another religious experience after which he devoted his life to Christianity. Pascal began to make frequent visits to Jansenists monasteries and published anonymously several religious works. He died on August 19, 1662 in Paris France.