Jacob Trakhtenberg is a scientist, thanks to whose genius mankind learned about the original and witty mathematical system. The meaning of this scientific discovery lies in performing arithmetic operations with huge numbers. These can be values that fill an entire line when written on paper. Jacob's unique intellect manifested this system in conditions terrible for human existence. During the Second World War, he was a prisoner of a concentration camp. It was during this terrible period of his life that the scientist, without the necessary conditions, was able to create a complete system of calculations.
Biography
Historical information about Jacob Trachtenberg is very scarce. He was born in the seaside city of Odessa in 1888. In those years, it was the territory of the Russian Empire. Jacob comes from a Jewish family. He studied at the local gymnasium, and after receiving secondary education, he went to St. Petersburg to continue his studies at the Mining Institute. Studying was easy for the student. This was reflected in his grades - Yakov received a diploma with honors. The young certified engineer started to work at the Obukhov plant. His hard work and sharp mind helped Yakov Trakhtenberg to become the chief engineer at the enterprise, which employed more than 11 thousand workers.
The engineering career was interrupted when the First World War and the revolutionary events in the Russian Empire began.
He had to emigrate to Europe. Jacob Trachtenberg chose Germany as his place of residence and settled in Berlin. Here he had to work in a literary publishing house. Jacob had to learn German. Thanks to his inventive mind, Jacob Trachtenberg became the author of a unique manual for the study of European languages. This technique is still used in schools and institutes in our time.
During his life in Berlin, Jacob met his future wife Alice.
Life in a Nazi state
In the thirties, drastic changes took place in Germany - the Nazis came to power in the country and began to openly implement fascist slogans in public life. Since Yakov Trakhtenberg was Jewish by nationality, it became dangerous for him, like other representatives of this nation, to live in Nazi Germany. Trachtenberg and his family moved to Austria. His encyclopedic knowledge helped him get a good job. However, Austria was soon captured by Nazi troops. Jewish refugees began to leave this calm country. Jacob's family went to look for safe places, but they were arrested and placed in the Polish concentration camp Auschwitz.
The life of the prisoners was terrible. The weakest were sent to gas ovens.
Despite the hardships and constant fear of death, Yakov Trakhtenberg trained his brain so as not to sink and not lose the human image. Not having at hand notebooks and a pencil, the scientist mentally made mathematical calculations. He has great abstract thinking. Jacob created interesting counting algorithms. He created an arithmetic system for processing numbers that any person could learn. The difficulties of life in concentration camps, the threat to life and a passionate desire for freedom led to the fact that Yakov escaped from prison with his wife.
Last years
After a long series of adventures, Jacob managed to cross the Swiss border. The war was drawing to a close. The Trachtenbergs moved to Zurich, where the scientist created his own educational institution, where he taught his unique mathematical system of counting.
The journalist Anna Kutler helped Yakov to popularize the mathematical method by writing the book "Instant Mathematics" in a language understandable to a simple student. In Swiss institutes, competitions were held in counting speed based on Trachtenberg's algorithms.
The great mathematician died in 1953.
The mathematical technique of instant counting is still of interest to those who are fond of arithmetic and working with numbers.
