Priyanka Garigipati

Biography of John Nash

John Forbes Nash Jr. was born on June 13, 1928 in Blue iel!, "est #irginia. $is ather, John %r., was a &uiet ele'tri'al engineer who worke! or the (ppala'hian )le'tri' Power *o+pany. $e gra!uate! ro+ ,e-as (gri'ultural . /e'hani'al 0ni1eristy. John %r. was also a "orl! "ar 2 1eteran an! ser1e! in Fran'e as a lieutenant. Nash3s +other, #irginia, was a tea'her who taught )nglish an! 4atin . %he 'a+e ro+ a a+ily that 1alue! higher e!u'ation an! 'hur'h like John %r .3s a+ily.5267 #irginia3s ather was Ja+es /artin, a a+ous physi'ian at the ti+e. John Nash Jr. was a solitary an! intro1erte! boy. 5387. Fro+ a young age, #irginia en'ourage John Nash to 'ulti1ate a!1an'e! learning skills . By the age o our, #irginia kept pushing Nash to e-'el at rea!ing,. %he sent hi+ to a pri1ate kin!ergar!en, ensure! he skippe! hal a gra!e in s'hool, tutore! hi+ at ho+e, an! enrolle! hi+ )nglish, s'ien'e, an! +ath 'lasses at Blue iel! *ollege while John Nash was still in high s'hool. $e o''upie! hi+sel with Compton's Pictured Encyclopedia, a+ong other books at his house or his gran!parents3 house. ,hroughout his 'hil!hoo!, Nash en9oye! e-peri+entation. By the age o twel1e, he ille! his roo+ with ra!ios, ele'tri'al ga!gets, an! 'he+i'al e-peri+ents to stu!y an! e-plore . Nash3s parents re'ogni:e! the genius intelle't o their son an! ensure! that he e-'elle! a'a!e+i'ally an! so'ially. Nash3s sister, /artha, was o ten re&uire! to in'lu!e Nash in her so'ial gatherings . Further+ore, #irginia an! John Nash %r. insiste! that John Nash Jr. get a 9ob at the Bluefield Daily Telegraph !uring the su++ers so that he woul! be a well;roun!e! ki!s . < ten ti+es, the !ates he went on !uring his high s'hool years were set up by /artha, yet Nash only ollowe! through with the e1ents to please his parents. Nash 'ontinue! to !ay!rea+ an! in1este! a great !eal o attention an! ti+e to his e-peri+ents . (s a result, he !i!n3t a'&uire +any rien!s. Nash3s talent in +athe+ati's was irst re'ogni:e! when John Nash was still in ourth gra!e . ( ter getting a B;+inus in his +ath 'lass, the tea'her tol! #irgnia that John Nash wasn3t able to !o the

proble+s. $owe1er, #irginia knew that John Nash si+ply has a !i erent +etho! o sol1ing the proble+s. 4ater on in high s'hool, he sol1e! 'o+pli'ate! +ath proo s, whi'h usually re&uire! +ultiple steps, in two or three steps. "hen Nash o thirteen or ourteen, he began rea!ing Men of Mathematics by ).,. Bell. $e was parti'ularly intereste! in Fren'h +athe+ati'ian, Fer+at, who was 're!ite! with the !is'o1ery o 'al'ulus an! analyti' geo+etry with Newton an! =e'artes respe'ti1ely. ,hrough his rea!ing, Nash !e1elope! an interest in nu+ber theory. $e later went onto !e1elop a proo or Fer+at3s i!ea that a whole nu+ber +ultiplie! by a pri+e nu+ber +inus the whole nu+ber will be !i1isible by the pri+e nu+ber. Nash attaine! +u'h 9oy ro+ +aking this sel !is'o1ery, whi'h 'reate! the oun!ation or the theoreti'al e-plorations later in his li e. John Nash aspire! to be'o+e an engineer . $e entere! the George "estinghouse 'o+petition an! won a ull s'holarship to *arnegie 2nstitute o ,e'hnology where he starte! o as a 'he+i'al engineer. =uring Nash3s un!ergra!uate years, he swit'he! +a9or +ultiple ti+es. 2nitially, he !i!n3t like the +e'hani'al !rawing aspe't o engineering an! !e'i!e! to swit'h to a 'he+istry +a9or . ,hen, he !islike! the a't that 'he+istry was +ore 'on'erne! about lab te'hni&ues su'h as han!ling a pipette or per or+ing a titration rather than about 'o+prehen!ing the a'ts an! trying to apply the 'on'epts . Nash inally settle! on a +ath +a9or, !espite his initial 'on'erns about not being able to +ake a easible li1ing with a !egree in +ath. Nash was re erre! to as young Gaussby his pro essors who saw the great potential Nash possesse!. =espite his pre'o'ious nature an! a''lai+ ro+ his pro essors, Nash struggle! so'ially. /ost o his peers thought he was unsophisti'ate! an! si+ply a 'ountry boy . >obert %iegel, a 'lass+ate o Nash3s, states that Nash ne1er atten!e! a sy+phony per or+an'e in or!er to 'orroborate the assertion that Nash was unsophisti'ate!. 5?27. Nash also a'te! e''entri' by playing the sa+e 'hor! on the piano +ultiple ti+es or walking on his roo++ate3s bo!y to turn o the lights, whi'h pro1i!e! his peers +ore reasons to tease Nash .

Further+ore, Nash 'li+be! into his peers3 be!s an! +a!e passes at the+, whi'h le! his 'lass+ates to

label hi+ o+o.5?37. Nash was 'onstantly tease!, howe1er, he +anage! to !e en! hi+sel by insulting the intelligen'e o those who tease! hi+. Nash was 'onte+ptuous o those who were not on the sa+e intelle'tual stan!ar! as he was. %u'h beha1ior helpe! hi+ 'ope with all the 1erbal atta'ks an! pranks by his peers sin'e he was able to ha1e high sel ;estee+ . /any stu!ents also sought Nash3s help on ho+ework an! his pro essors noti'e! how Nash alrea!y 'oul! think like a +athe+ati'ian at the age o nineteen. "hile his peers were trying to stu!y the te-tbooks, Nash was trying to un!erstan! 'on'epts su'h as =iophantine e&uations. *on'epts that +ost o his ellow 'lass+ates !i!n3t know about . (s a 9unior at *arnegie, Nash was a''epte! to $ar1ar!, Prin'eton, *hi'ago an! /i'higan gra!uate progra+s or +athe+ati's. (lthough $ar1ar! was his irst 'hoi'e be'ause o the prestige the uni1ersity ha!, Prin'eton o ere! +ore +oney than $ar1ar! an! was 'loser to Blue iel! . ,he 'hair+an o the +ath !epart+ent at Prin'eton, %olo+an 4e s'het:, awar!e! Nash the John % . @enne!y Fellowship in or!er to urge Nash to atten! Prin'eton. 5?A7. ,he ellowship re&uire! little to no tea'hing an! a roo+ in Prin'eton3s resi!ential 'ollege. $en'e, Nash 'on'lu!e! that Prin'eton 1alue! hi+ +ore an! !e'i!e! to atten! Prin'eton or his gra!uate stu!ies. =uring his ti+e at Prin'eton, Nash en'ountere! nu+erous people who 'onsistently talke! about +athe+ati's an! its appli'ation to topology, logi', an! ga+e theory. <ther gra!uate stu!ents were always 'o+petiti1e, 9ust like Nash an! the learning en1iron+ent thri1e! on the 'o+petition o a'hie1e+ents an! appoint+ents a ter gra!uation. "hile still in his se'on! ter+, Nash wrote his irst paper, he Bargaining Proble+,whi'h ser1e! to e-plain ho parties in a potential bargain woul! intera't in the +arket. For his !issertation, Nash worke! on his e&uilibriu+ theory about non;'ooperati1e +arkets an! o'use! on ri1alries with +utual gain, whi'h years later will earn hi+ the Nobel Pri:e. 2n the su++er o 19B8, Nash began working as a 'onsultant or >(N=, a think tank base! in %anta /oni'a that brings the best +in!s in the 'ountry in or!er to !is'uss ga+e theory in relation to nu'lear war. ,he intelle'tuals use rational analysis to sol1e how to use the nu'lear weapons to stall a

war with >ussia a+i!st the tensions o the *ol! "ar . 0pon gra!uation, Nash worke! or a year in the +ath !epart+ent at Prin'eton. $e later a''epte! a a'ulty position at /assa'husetts 2nstitute o ,e'hnology in 19B1 as a *.4.) /oore instru'tor or the better salary.(s a pro essor at /2,, John gaine! a reputation or being a tough gra!er an! a!+inistering !i i'ult e-a+s . /ost stu!ents an! e1en a'ulty still a!+ire! hi+ or his +athe+ati'al ability. 2n 19B2, Nash publishe! Real Algebraic Manifolds in the Annals of Mathematics, whi'h o'use! on his work in the topi' o real algebrai' geo+etry. 2n the su++er o 19B?, Nash was arreste! in a oli'e trapo >(N= e+ployees or in!e'ent e-posure. (nyone who was suspe'te! o e-hibiting ho+ose-ual ten!en'ies or a'ting re'kless in nature that in!i'ate! poor 9u!ge+ent were arreste! . %in'e Nash was a well respe'te! +athe+ati'ian, he was si+ply tol! that he will be strippe! o his (ir For'e 'learan'e rather than be prose'ute! . But !ue to his arrest an! the 'harges against hi+, it was i+possible or hi+ to 'ontinue at >(N= an! he was ire! ro+ the think tank. =espite Nash3s a'hie1e+ents, he la+ente! that he was unable to re'ei1e the 'o1ete! Fiel!s /e!al in /athe+ati's. Fro+ 19BA to 19B6, Nash re'ei1e! the (l re! P . %logan grant an! Nash 'hose to spen! the year at Prin'eton as a te+porary +e+ber at the 2nstitute or (!1an'e! %tu!y . =uring this ti+e, he was working on sol1ing a proo or a proble+ in1ol1ing partial !i erential e&uations, but was unaware o the 'urrent resear'h alrea!y going on by )nnio !e Giorgi. Giorgi publishe! his proo +onths be ore Nash an! was able to an! Nash lost the opportunity to win the Fiel!s /e!al. >egar!ing Nash3s personal li e, he barely ha! any 1isitors or rien!s. "hen Nash was s'he!ule! to ha1e so+e 1ari'ose 1eins re+o1e!, a nurse na+e! )leanor a!+itte! hi+ to the hospital. ,he began to ha1e a se'ret a air an! John was relu'tant to intro!u'e )leanor to his 'olleagues. )lanor 'a+e ro+ a hu+ble, lower 'lass ba'kgroun!. =uring their relationship, Nash spent +ost o the ti+e talking about hi+sel an! his a''o+plish+ent an! )lanor was 'ontent with the state o a airs . %he !i!n3t want to tell Nash about her ba'kgroun! 'onsi!ering Nash3s status as a /2, pro essor an! his pri1ilege! upbringing .

)lanor be'a+e pregnant soon a ter an! although she hope! Nash woul! ask her to +arry hi+, he si+ply elt happy an! !i!n3t in!i'ate that he wante! to +arry her or that he will support her while raising the 'hil!. ( boy, na+e! John =a1i! %tier, was born on June 19, 19B2 . Nash trie! to keep in 'onta't with his son, but stoppe! 1isiting hi+ later on. John Nash later +et (li'ia 4ar!e, a physi's +a9or ro+ )l %al1a!or, at /2,. 2n 19B6, the 'ouple +arrie! in a *atholi' style we!!ing, e1en though Nash was atheist, an! 'ontinue! li1ing near /2,. Nash su ere! with paranoi! s'hi:ophrenia or +ost o his li e. ,he irst signs o his !elusional state began shortly a ter his wi e be'a+e pregnant. $e began talking about *harles $er+an an! "illia+ Par'her, who were putting hi+ in !anger an! thought that all +en who wore re! ties were part o a 'o++unist 'onspira'y. Nash e1en +aile! letters to e+bassies in "ashington =.*. %tating that these +en were trying to establish a go1ern+ent . (li'ia has her husban! in1oluntarily hospitali:e! at /'*lean $ospital outsi!e Boston or psy'hiatri' 'are. $e was !iagnose! with paranoi! s'hi:ophrenia a ter !o'tors obser1e! the sy+pto+s o paranoia, i-e! belie s that are alse or unrealisti' 'ouple! with hallu'inations. ( ter his release ro+ /'*lean, Nash resigne! ro+ /2,, with!rew his pension, an! went to )urope to renoun'e his 0nite! %tates 'iti:enship an! to earn a status as a re ugee . (li'ia ollowe! hi+ an! hi+ !eporte! ba'k to the 0nite! %tates. (s Nash3s illness progressi1ely worsene!, (li'ia, #irginia, an! his sister /artha, a!+itte! hi+ to the ,renton %tate $ospital in New Jersey in January 19A1 . =uring his hospitali:ation in ,renton, Nash was sub9e'te! to insulin;'o+a therapy or a +onth an! a hal , i1e !ays a week . <n'e release! ro+ the a'ility, his 'olleagues were able to se'ure hi+ a resear'h position at Prin'eton, but he went to )urope again an! sent 'rypti' +essages ho+e. (li'ia !i!n3t ollow hi+ this ti+e. 2nstea!, she !i1or'e! hi+ in 19A2. <n'e again, Nash3s 'olleagues got hi+ a 9ob at Bran!eis 0ni1ersity in Boston an! arrange! or hi+ to +eet with a psy'hiatrist who pres'ribe! hi+ anti;psy'hoti' +e!i'ation . $is 'on!ition i+pro1e! an! he also began spen!ing +ore ti+e with )lanor an! his son John =a1i! again . But Nash went o o

his +e!i'ation an! the !elusional sy+pto+s resur a'e! . 2n 1968, (li'ia took John in as a boar!er into her house. %he igure! that i she 'oul! oster an en1iron+ent where Nash 'oul! be in 'onta't with a'a!e+i's, then he +ight be able to re'o1er sooner. By the 1988s, Nash began to i+pro1e +entally an! his !elusions ha1e !i+inishe!. (li'ia an! John Nash re+arrie! an! Nash returne! to his o i'e in Prin'eton. 2n 1996, John =a1i! %tier 1isite! John Nash an! the two trie! to rebuil! their relationship . )1en Johnny, John Nash an! (li'ia3s son, was wel'o+e! in )lanor3s ho+e. 2n 199?, Nash won the Nobel Pri:e in )'ono+i's along with e'ono+ist John *. $arsanyi an! +athe+ati'ian >einhar! %elten or their pioneering analysis o e&uilibria in the theory o non; 'ooperati1e ga+es, therwise known as ga+e theory. Nash intro!u'e! the 'on'ept that 'ooperation between parties 'an 'ooperate, but it +ust be in ea'h player3s sel interest to 'ooperate base! on the gains that will be a'hie1e!. Nash pro1e! that at least one e&uilibriu+ e-ists in a ga+e as long as +i-e! strategies, where one player !oesn3t take an a'tion with 'ertainty but has +ultiple options that pro1i!e a positi1e out'o+e, are allowe!. $e also !eri1e! the Nash e+be!!ing theore+, whi'h states that e1ery >ie+ann +ani ol! 'an be iso+etri'ally e+be!!e! into the )u'li!ean spa'e. 2n 1999, Nash won the 4eroy P. %teele Pri:e an! he still 'ontinues to resear'h at Prin'eton 0ni1ersity.