Cauchy–Kowalevski theorem
Teorema de Cauchy-Kovalévskaya
- Date
- 1842 (Cauchy) / 1874 (Kovalévskaya) · confidence high
- Place
- Göttingen, Germany
- Credited to
- Sofia Kovalevskaya y Augustin-Louis Cauchy
- Field
- Knowledge & symbols
What was discovered
Main local existence and uniqueness theorem for analytic partial differential equations with Cauchy initial conditions; a special case was proven by Cauchy in 1842, and the general result by Sofya Kovalevskaya in 1874 in her doctoral dissertation.
What it led to
- Modern theory of partial differential equations
- Understanding of the limits of analyticity in solving PDEs
- Recognition of Kovalevskaya as a pioneering woman PhD in mathematics
- Later development of the theory of non-analytic PDEs