Hua Loo-keng

Hua Luogeng
Hua Luogeng in 1956
Born	(1910-11-12)12 November 1910 Jintan, Jiangsu, Qing China
Died	12 June 1985(1985-06-12) (aged 74) Tokyo, Japan
Nationality	Chinese
Fields	Mathematics
Institutions	Chinese Academy of Sciences University of Science and Technology of China University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton Southwest Associated University Cambridge University Tsinghua University
Doctoral students	Raymond Ayoub Chen Jingrun Pan Chengdong Wang Yuan
Known for	Hua's theorem Hua's inequality Brauer–Cartan–Hua theorem Hua's matrix inequality Hua's lemma Hua's identity Hua's identity (Jordan algebra)

Hua Luogeng, or Hua Loo-gehng (Chinese: 华罗庚; Wade–Giles: Hua Lo-keng; 12 November 1910 – 12 June 1985), was a Chinese mathematician famous for his important contributions to number theory and for his role as the leader of mathematics research and education in the People's Republic of China. He was largely responsible for identifying and nurturing the renowned mathematician Chen Jingrun who proved Chen's theorem, the best known result on the Goldbach conjecture. In addition, Hua's later work on mathematical optimization and operations research made an enormous impact on China's economy.

Hua did not receive a formal university education. Although awarded several honorary PhDs, he never got a formal degree from any university. In fact, his formal education only consisted of six years of primary school and three years of middle school. For that reason, Xiong Qinglai, after reading one of Hua's early papers, was amazed by Hua's mathematical talent, and in 1931 Xiong invited him to study mathematics at Tsinghua University.

Hua Luogeng was born in Jintan, Jiangsu on 12 November, 1910. Hua's father was a small businessman. Hua met a capable math teacher in middle school who recognized his talent early and encouraged him to read advanced texts. After middle school, Hua enrolled in Chinese Vocational College in Shanghai, and there he distinguished himself by winning a national abacus competition. Although tuition fees at the college were low, living costs proved too high for his means, and Hua was forced to leave a term before graduating. After failing to find a job in Shanghai, Hua returned home in 1927 to help in his father's store. In 1929, Hua contracted typhoid fever and was in bed for half a year. The culmination of Hua's illness resulted in the partial paralysis of his left leg, which impeded his movement quite severely for the rest of his life.