Maria Gaetana Agnesi

Who is she?

An Italian mathematician who lived from 1718-1799 and both the first woman to write a mathematics handbook and the first female mathematics professor at a university.

What did she contribute?

Published a mathematics textbook discussing a variety of topics including an equation describing a curve with a very strange name: the “witch of Agnesi”! This is how the curve is constructed:

Interesting Fact?

Maria had TWENTY younger siblings - imagine trying get some peace and quiet in the Agnesi household!