Sturm, Jacques Charles François (1803–1855)

Swiss mathematician. In 1829 he discovered the theorem which is named after him. This theorem completes the resolution of equations of any degree by an intermediate determination of the number of real roots lying between two given limits. He measured the velocity of sound in water by using a bell submerged in Lake Geneva. He became professor at the Ecole polytechnique in 1838. His Cours d'analyse/Course on analysis (1857–59) and Cours de mecanique/Course on mechanics (1861) were published posthumously and were widely used as textbooks.

Sturm was born in Geneva, Switzerland.