pursuit of mathematics despite the hindrances in a patriarchal society that barred women from
taking education. In her early life she kept her identity hidden working under the pseudonym of Leblanc.
Mainly she taught herself by studying books from her father's library. Her passion for mathematics
despite obstacles and family pressure remained unrivalled.
Sophie's contribution to mathematics is remarkable mainly because without pursuing any formal
education, she proved her mettle as one of the mathematicians that contributed towards development
of a game theory. It would be wrong to assume that perhaps she was the first -female that helped
in the advancement of mathematics- As Gauss said about her:
"How can I describe my astonishment and admiration on seeing my esteemed corespondent M Leblanc
metamorphosed into this celebrated person...when a woman, because of her flower, encounters infinitely
more obstacles than men in familiarising herself with (number theory's) knotty problems, yet, overcomes
these fetters and penetrates that most noble courage, extraordinary talent,and superior genius."
Her education in mathematics mainly resulted from correspondence with Legendre, and Gauss. In
mathematics, her chief interest lay in 'number theory', originally aroused after reading publications by
Legendre and Gauss, afterwards, she presented her work in Fermant's last theorem
by proving that it worked.
Later in 1815, her interest was reawakened after a prize was offered for the proof of Fermts's Last
Theorem. She wrote a letter to Carl Friedrich Gluass. In this letter, she stated that number theory was
her preferred field. She outlined a strategy for a general proof of Fermat's Theorem.
This letter contained the first substantial progress towards genuine proof in 200 years, however Gauss never
answered this letter.
Sophie Germain died on 27th June 1831.
