Graciano Ricalde Gamboa

(Mathematics)

1873-1942

 

Part One

Life

By Dr. Ricalde Ruben Gamboa

 

First Years

 

On a sheet of stone, under a tropical sun, where nature seems to have denied all his gifts, where life is precarious because the climate is overwhelmed and because the climate is overwhelmed and because the man, to survive, you have to boot from the penalty in an effort titan, the elements for their livelihood; in an inhospitable land in this way was born one of the most ingenious MATHEMATICAL mention must of our homeland.

 

It was in the town of Hoctun, Party of Izamal, Yucatan, in a little corner of town less than two thousand souls, where he saw the first light on November 21, 1873, to three hours a day, Mauro Graciano Ricalde Gamboa, the fifth of the children of that humble home.

 

His parents were D. Ambrosio Ricalde Moguel and Da. Isidra Gamboa of Ricalde, who educated in the Catholic faith procreate and raised a Christian seven children, four boys and three girls.

 

Devoted to agriculture, changed his residence from the village of their origin to Hocaba of the same political jurisdictions, where they temporarily settled, putting their children in several local school.

 

Then the instruction issued, which was barely pushed into the country under the administration of the governor Gral. Porfirio Díaz, had strong competition in the private instruction, which to raise the ideology of classes Conservator colleges remained fairly well attended that rivals success with the formal instruction. This however, liberal ideas strongly rooted in Yuctan, preferring to destartalada school official to schools always better equipped and better teachers with the expense of private schools and decided that since childhood and the race straight upward Mauro Graciano. In the village of Hocaba and counting just four years old, the boy left a morning of his parents' house without permission from them and, responding to a natural inclination all the more remarkable in that tender age that hardly counted, addressed the public elementary school accompanied by his brother Manuel, submitted to the teacher who was last name Echeverria, describes in the beautiful language of this first age their desire to learn letters and numbers. I call the attention of the teacher this early state, where anywhere in the world yet started the era of kindergartens, and mentor, far from removing the boy who went without their parents to represent him, was inclined to ask your name and what if those clouds sent the boy said called Chano (Graciano) and with this single simplistic description was entered in the village school.

 

Alli learned the primers in the humble but unforgettable "Book of Mantilla," taking up the third year, which then represented the limits of the primary school in the villages of Yucatan before the advent of programs of instruction to boost the Normal School of Jalapa , In remembrance grata.

 

The meager resources of their parents did not allow greater encouragement or opportunity for studies of young Graciano so that this could continue in larger centers such as that provided by the State Capital and so the next step was not toward the city Merida, who then began a remarkable renaissance in science and literature, but it came to the village of Hoctun who was born and where the migratory flow of young people off of it to cities like Merida and Mexico and even to some of the United States had given some level of culture very valuable for that small place and to equella time, then return to public school under the direction of an old master, but it warrants, related to, D. S. Diego Ricalde.

 

Teacher for many years at the school official, educator of the old system, requiring severely use their learners and in some ways too tilted to the arithmetic, droughts was the teacher-parent the most powerful stimulus that had Ricalde Gamboa to grow from childhood Bilateral and his own discipline of mathematics; then limited their primary school education until the operations made with the broken, so that the student had taken advantage of that school just as his wealth of knowledge different arithmetic operations that can be done with these numbers.

 

In Merida

 

In the school of Hoctun remained for another two years and finally saw the young Graciano made the greatest aspiration of his life, which was moving in 1885 to the city of Merida to enter the Normal School for Teachers of the state, recently founded, to be their teachers in that year the first teachers normal graduates in the emerging Normal School and the teachers who left high and distinguished reputation as they are, among whom spend their old age surrounded by the respect and affection of many generations of professionals who have been distinguished themselves.

 

At the Second Year of the newly Normal School, opened in 1885. to which they belonged was Ricalde Gamboa and it was the Maestro Jose Ines Novelo, who was then Professor of arithmetic reasons, that certainly was impressed by the dedication and skill of special Ricalde Gamboa for the cultivation of this arduous discipline.

 

By then the State Government encouraged the cultivation of scientific disciplines through scholarships for the young interior of the state's poor who could not afford their studies in the city of Merida, and they have always shown great use, and a decree of the legislature Local established a scholarship at the Normal School for Teachers of the state of Yucatan, for each of the sixteen parties that made up the entity, but of course each party propose its candidate, which was subjected to an examination of admission and other evidence to warrant being creditor to grace granted by the State Government.

 

Graciano had just twelve years old when you become a fellow at the Ecole Normale, so to be accepted it had to resort to a lie, saying that was fourteen, which set the minimum age regulation of the School.

 

With Ricalde Gamboa also had other circumstances it toward a predestined to higher and designs that was occupied the scholarship for the Party of Izamal was necessary to appeal to the generosity of the Party of Motul, it prohijo as suvo, managing and securing the State Government that his fellow outside Ricalde.

 

The race lasted a normal teacher then four years, but the two have entered the Normal School was on the verge of losing their lives, a victim of typhoid that attacked him for three or four months, and that forced him to left campus, where all residents as fellows Internees and who therefore could infect, in addition to the doctor who took care of what I consider so serious that I judge your retirement needs even for the same.

 

After this crisis in their health and resumed his studies at the campus of higher education, its use was excellent, and ending the race at the age of sixteen, it was necessary that the Congress of State issued a decree should enable it to be considered as an recepcional pro student distinguished, since it lacked legal age titled, with the minimum set of eighteen years.

 

For this season, ano de 1889, the two largest centers for the dissemination of culture in Yucatan l were the Literary Institute and State Normal School, as others lived in the same historical building, which since the collapse of the so-called Empire of Maximilian and The triumph of the patrician Yucatan Gral. Capeda Manuel Peraza, had been cited for the Literary Institute.

 

The Normal School had established an Intern in the upper was then Literary Institute of State for Youth pensioners by the Government, on the south side of the building, in a number of departments that the time of rejuvenation and new trends of instruction higher and professional in the state of Yucatan have done away with, European Parliament who were wide and shaded for the fresh leaves of a banana whose shadow students interned yearn for breaks in their studies, the quiet life of their peoples and the last sentence of carino received from their parents to dismiss them and maybe the image of the bride away, confident that he hoped the return of the adolescent that was once covered his face with the Laurels of school success.

 

Mathematical

 

in that place of stillness and recollection was where Graciano Ricalde encouraged and led by Lic. and Eng. Capeda Manuel Sales, an eminent scientist Yucatan, began his serious studies of actual matematicas.

 

At the end of the last century concern to the authorities and the population of the city of Merida, the insecure situation in one of the towers of the Cathedral emeritense. Was this despite the great bell that is on top of that tower without lower it, because being Cracked constitute a great danger to the public, and it needed to know whether it was possible to make the repair without changing the site hood, was assigned to Wise teacher D. Sales Manuel Cepeda, then director of the institute Literary, this was considered hard work, who chose his student Graciano Ricalde to run the calculations and deduce the exact weight of the bell, which he did with any accuracy, with the natural wonder of the Scientists from Merida of that time. That fact did break between those who grew mathematics in the town and in the aftermath of the last century was elected to the practice of arithmetic Reasoned professorship at the State Literary Institute, which is toward teaching high school.

 

His dedication to the mathematics in different forms as both a left and continue to regularly prevented him from the preparatory studies at the School of which was already Professor, what made, however, in their free time, as they were entering their propostitos the School of Engineering of the State and called on it to Civil Engineer.

 

The economic difficulties which continued their studies Ricalde were highly valued by the then Gbdor. of Edo. Lic. Olegario Molina, who was at the same time Ing. Civil, which, in February 1901 that he offered to submit a Ricalde initiative to the Legislature Local exposing senior recitals of public interest that the student will be exempted from Ricalde sustain any examination of the Second Year of the English Language Program that required the school to Preparatioria and not even supported, so that he could enter the School of Engineering, max desire to Ricalde. Diclino angry that this proposition was considered prejudicial to their dignity.

 

Ricalde only because it is normal Professor Public Accountant and was entitled to this last category professed for many years, the professorship of arithmetic Accounting and Business of Books that were part of the curriculum of the School of Commerce of the State and with a scientific discipline unimpaired growing all related branches of mathematics higher, which consecrate all his life, being aware of all movements of the mathematical world from its regional site.

 

Ever since before 1900 began to form his library of selected authors, especially in mathematics, which I leave to die with my more than five volumes, being a collaborator since the international journal entitled L'Intermédiaire Mathematiciens of which was edited in Paris, PUBLICATION directed and written by scholars MATHEMATICAL European and devoted almost exclusively to raise issues on the specialty and propuests resolved even by some mathematical correspondent for the resolution of any other mathematical world that was deemed competent to do so. Ricalde suggested problems very difficult to turn their coasociados already had the honor and opportunity to resolve problems raised by them in this book. This. of course, it unveiled in the City of Light as a high exponent in the science of mathematics and what connects correspondence with the most eminent selcto of mathematics in Paris. Laplace, Serret, Couchy, Hermite, Poincare, Appell, Delambre, Oppolzer, Diaz Covarrubias and other family members were him, said correspondence with Henri Poincaré and Sotero Prieto (our mathematical genius blighted).

 

Governor of Yucatan, Lic. Olegario Molina, covencido the real value of Ricalde, I accept the proposition put by the Lic. Novelo Jose Ines, then President of the Council of Public Instruction of the State to Ricalde Gamboa, for his competence, Director and was appointed Professor of the School of Engineering, however, that the regulations that prevented the establishment who run the exhibit title should be a civil engineer, but as it was felt that Ricalde was the one who knew more in this discipline in the state, nobody believed he was committing a scientific heresy, and at the insistence of the most prominent personalities of the period, Ricalde was forced to accept and regenteo the School of Engineering of the State for three consecutive years, after which the charge for its decline very large jobs and their studies and correspondent with the International Mathematical centers.

 

Intimate Life

 

In the year 1902 Ricalde case with the partner who was then in his entire life, then a professor Srita normal. Carmen and Manzanilla Camomile, which now is his widow. From that marriage were born four children, three boys and one girl, who, cast in the environment of the parental home and maybe for some hereditary fitness, studied under the direction of the father, mathematics. They carry the Name of Alfonso, Humberto, Enrique and Ofelia, and today, and seniors, are the four public accountants. One of them, Enrique, exercises his profession in New York City for ten years.

 

There was a person of complexion rather robust, high front clear, green eyes, nose straight talk measured, quiet and austere life, little fan's life exhibit, was always a value, somewhat hidden, almost all their studies remained unpublished forming his "Memoirs", 1 representing several volumes, which includes bold conceptions of itself, works of higher algebra, astronomy and mathematics generally higher, but the most notable of his work is a personal method to complete the resolution of equations of any degree, up from the second quarter as higher grades, fifth and so on.

 

Although it was certainly a modest man, do not encourage you never inferiority complex, because when he was asked to argue publicly, I accept discussions that were raised Peron never in vain display of wisdom, caused these external manifestations of their knowledge. Earlier this century, held a discussion by the local press with Ing. Mendicuti Felix Gomez on a point of stellar astronomy, for more precise on the star Spica of the Virgin, in which the conclusions that regard were irrefutable and a silent thus giving his opponent a victory that Ricalde not seek but which was the result of a provocation.

 

The Last Years

 

In 1910, and I note with precison calculation, the parable that would have to follow the great travelers of the universe Comet Halley, since then refuting the possibility that even alimentaran eminent contemporary astronomers on the cauda huge comet envolveria in their gas to our globe, causing his death; rigorous studies so seriously that he compiled in a booklet that had great resonance in the National Observatory of Paris.

 

In 1923 the calculation of total sun eclipse of that year and joined the Mexican Commission Geodescica happened to observe a Champoton, Estdo of Campeche, for being there this total eclipse, in which the capital of the republic was seen as partial.

 

But his buzzer greater glory is undoubtedly the resolution of the general equation of 5 degree grade by elliptic functions, a feat that is analyzed and evaluated in the second part of this biography.

 

Ricalde organized and auditreaba centabilidades of the most varied natures, so that all large commercial and industrial organizations of the main ciundades of the Peninsula relied on Ricalde DSE, which had the responsibility for it.

 

Vivio these men as we speak the ancient stories and legends, dedicated to his home and his studies, with the latter became very high the name of Mexico, declining always, on the other hand, any invitation to him was to go to lie to countries other than their own because within a Mexican acendrado love to his homeland that he never oyo complain that the result be misunderstood or underestimated.

 

The younger brother of the, also a professor normal, Antonio Ricalde Gamboa, growing along with the great teacher mathematical specialty and under his guidance delves very important problems of this abstract science.

 

A sixty-nine years old, and after having given him the best of his talent and his life to his homeland, he paid the jonada this illustrious man, closing his eyes to life in his modest residence located on 49th Street , 48I A number of the city of Merida, the day on November 9, 1942, victim of an affection for the throat.

 

1. These Memories, "written in his own hand, are several volumes fillings, in which Ricalde transcribed MATHEMATICAL almost all its work, having been the last of brain volumes truncated, since the death of Mr Graciano, was still going on to the remaining work loose. It is also the interesting fact that and be unable to write, Ricalde, almost until his last moments, still solving intractable problems, using as scribes of his wife or their children. (Data communicated verbally by Mr. Alfonso Ricalde Manzanilla.) (N. D.)

 

Under the picture (p. 524):

Ricalde with his brother and their children. From left to right: Humberto Ricalde Manzanilla, Antonio Ricalde (brother of Mr Graciano). Graciano Ricalde (at 64 years old) and Ofelia and Alfonso Ricalde Manzanilla. (Courtesy of Mrs. Manzanilla Carmen Vda. Ricalde.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part Two

The Work

By Ing. Becerril Carlos Martinez (2)

 

One of the problems that have troubled most the mathematicians of all times is the resolution of algebraic equations of all grades. I refer to the following: getting to express the roots of an equation using the coefficients of algebraic functions. 

 

Equations for the first and second grades, is called its effective resolution from the fourth century AD, with the work of the Greek mathematical Diofanto which can be regarded as the inventor of algebra, not only wrote the equations with the symbols we have Now, many calculations done in a mental, so even the most simple, strong tension was needed to follow the spirit in all its transformations to its resolution and it was not until the illustrious Wind, the French mathematician sixteenth century, presented the resolution of these equations with the symbolism that we use today. 

 

Regarding the resolution of the equations of third grade, Escipion Dal Ferro (1496-1525), a mathematician from Bologna, is said to have been the first to solve an equation of third grade without its second term, the procedure followed had been reported by the author to one of his disciples called Mario Antonio Fiore, who at the death of Dal Ferro, it exploded, following a custom of the time to give the struggling algebraists, proposing problems that led to equations of the third degree. One of these was Nicolas MATHEMATICAL Tartaglia of Brescia (1550-1620). Considering this, initially, that Fiore was a simple calculation, there was greater attention to the matter, but Fiore Having been assured that he knew the rule for solving the problem, reported by haberselo a great mathematician, is the point of studying Tartaglia found with his great talent, the desired solution. 

 

2. This made a distinguished mathematical exposition of the merits of Ricalde during the evening in the Palais des Ballas Artes of Mexico City will check in honor of the recently deceased Yucatan on Monday night January 18, 1943, organized…by the National Academy of Sciences Antonio Alzate. The invitation was signed by Dr. Fernando Ocaranza Sirs, Torilja Dr. Jose Torres, and Antonio Pompa Pompa, Mr. Jose Romero, and Mr. Ricardo Garita Cicero and Silvano Garcia Guiot Cont. During the ceremony spoke Sirs Ing Agustin Aragon, Carlos Martinez Becerril, Prof. Agustin Aragon Leyva. Dr. Alfonso Napoles Gandara, Dr. Ruben Moreno Ricalde Delio Gamboa and Bolio. Band also took part Tipica Police Mexico City. Here is a chronicle of the evening, published by the daily news: Great tribute to a mathematician. Graciano Ricalde, honest antenoche. - Engineer Carlos Martinez Becerril demonstrates the highest scientific rigor in the memorable meeting that the National Academy of Sciences Antnio Alzate spent last Monday at the Theater of Fine Arts to the memory of Graciano Ricalde, that this was a modest mathematical Yucatan great, that alternate with the biggest talents in Europe and difficult problems solved with ingenuity, to deserve the good of Mexico and that their works are published for example by increasing our culture. 

 

 

 

"He was preceded in speaking engineer Don Agustin Aragon and his son Agustin Aragon Leiva, who spoke with phrases very clear the extent of the life and work of Ricalde. 

 

"The meeting was solemn and concurridisima by prominent intellectuals and scientists, having chaired Don Jose Ines Novelo, and the fourteen homberes high prestige in the life of Mexico. 

 

"The orqesta typical of Mexico City, directed by Pablo Marin, was cheerful and melodious note with their performances, which came to contrast sharply with those expressed by matematicas epeculaciones speakers mentioned.

 

"The doctor Alfonso Napoles Gandara, director of the Institute of Mathematics, said a final word, full of emotion, the merit of aquilatando an academy that deals like Alzate to inform Mexico of its greatest talents. Pon from Yucatan spoke Mr. Moreno Delio Bolio and Ricalde Ruben Gamboa, leaving the environment in the emotion of an act of justice and recognition, as Professor Agustin Aragon Leiva, president of the Mexican Council of Societies of Culture. "