Vojtěch Jarník
Early Life and Education
Vojtěch Jarník was born on December 22, 1897, in the city of Prague, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He was the son of a high school professor, who instilled in him a love for mathematics from an early age. Jarník attended the Charles University in Prague, where he studied under the tutelage of renowned mathematicians such as Eduard Čech and Karel Petr.
Career
After completing his studies, Jarník began his career as a mathematics teacher at a high school in Prague. However, his passion for research led him to return to Charles University, where he became an assistant professor in 1923. He was promoted to full professor in 1937, a position he held until his retirement in 1968.
During his tenure at Charles University, Jarník made significant contributions to the field of number theory and graph theory. His most notable work is perhaps the Jarník–Besicovitch theorem, which he developed in collaboration with Abram Samoilovitch Besicovitch. This theorem, which relates to the distribution of rational numbers, is still widely studied and applied in modern mathematics.
Contributions to Mathematics
Jarník's work in number theory and graph theory has had a profound impact on these fields. His research in Diophantine approximation led to the development of the Jarník–Besicovitch theorem, which has become a cornerstone in the study of Diophantine approximation.
In graph theory, Jarník is best known for his work on the minimum spanning tree problem. His algorithm, known as Jarník's algorithm or Prim–Jarník algorithm, is widely used in network design, computer graphics, and other fields where minimum spanning trees are required.
Legacy
Vojtěch Jarník passed away on March 22, 1970, but his contributions to mathematics continue to be recognized and studied. The Jarník–Besicovitch theorem and Jarník's algorithm remain fundamental tools in number theory and graph theory, respectively. In honor of his contributions, the Charles University in Prague hosts an annual conference, the "Jarník's Mathematical Days", where researchers from around the world gather to discuss recent developments in mathematics.