Wang Yuan (mathematician)

Wang Yuan (1930 – 2021) was a prominent Chinese mathematician known for his significant contributions to number theory, particularly in the areas of sieve methods, the Goldbach conjecture, and Diophantine approximation.

Born in Lanxi, Zhejiang province, Wang Yuan graduated from Zhejiang University in 1952. He then joined the Institute of Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he spent his entire career. He became a research professor and a leading figure in Chinese mathematics.

Wang Yuan's research focused on advancing the understanding of prime numbers and their distribution. He made substantial progress on the Goldbach conjecture, proving important results regarding the number of prime factors in sums of two numbers. His work on the Chen theorem (proved by Chen Jingrun) provided crucial supporting results.

His contributions extended beyond the Goldbach conjecture to other areas of number theory, including the development and application of sieve methods, which are techniques used to estimate the number of prime numbers in a given set. He also made important contributions to Diophantine approximation, which involves approximating real numbers by rational numbers.

Wang Yuan was recognized both nationally and internationally for his achievements. He was an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to mathematics. He also wrote several influential books on number theory, which have been widely used by students and researchers. He played a crucial role in fostering the development of number theory research in China and mentoring many young mathematicians.