Maurice Kraitchik

Maurice Borisovich Kraitchik (Russian Морис Борисович Крайчик; * April 21, 1882 in Minsk; † August 19, 1957 in Brussels ) was a Russian-born Belgian mathematician who is known for his contributions to recreational mathematics and engaged in number theory.

Kraitchik was born in Russia and attended there until his graduation from high school in 1903, but failed due to study limitations on Jews do not study there. He wanted to study mathematics in France, but could not get where he learned that he could study mathematics when he passed the entrance exams go in Liège ( Liège ). Despite a lack of knowledge of French, he was admitted. He graduated in 1910 at the University of Liège from an electrical engineer. By the end of his life he preferred the Occupation Engineer, although he worked as an actuary. During World War II, he could not return to Russia, and he worked at the Belgian financial company Sofina ( Societe Financier de Trasports et d' Enterprises Industrial ), in which he remained until his retirement in 1948. By the way, he earned his doctorate in 1923 at the Université Libre de Bruxelles in mathematics ( number theory ). After his PhD he held as Agrégé lectures on number theory at the University of Brussels. He was later director of the Institut des Hautes Etudes de Belgique.

Kraitchik wrote some books on recreational mathematics and number theory. 1931 to 1939 he was editor of the Journal of recreational mathematics "Sphinx" ( Revue des questions mensuelle RECREATIVES ). In 1935 he organized in Brussels the first international conference on recreational mathematics, followed by a second in 1937 followed in Paris. During the Second World War ( 1941-1946 ), he went to the USA where he held in New York at the New School for Social Research as an Associate Professor lectures on recreational mathematics. Then he returned to Belgium.

Kraitchik improved 1926, the factorization of Pierre de Fermat, which was later expanded by Carl Pomerance for quadratic sieve. Kraitchik is also a weekday formula known and for the exchange paradox.

Writings

  • Théorie des Nombres, Gauthier -Villars, Paris 1926, 1947 (2 volumes).
  • Recherches sur la théorie of nombres I, II, Gauthier -Villars, Paris, 1924, 1929
  • Alignment Charts - construction and use, Van Nostrand, New York 1944
  • La mathématique des jeux ou Récréations Mathématiques, Paris: Vuibert, Brussels Imprimerie Stevens Frères, 1930, 2nd edition 1953 Brussels
  • Mathematical recreations, George Allen & Unwin Ltd., London, 1944, 2nd edition 1953, Dover, New York 1953, 2006.
  • Introduction a la théorie of nombres, Gauthier -Villars, 1952
  • Financial graphic tables, D. Nutt, London / G. E. Stechert, New York 1939
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