1. Witch of Agnesi (Versiera)
Liceo Statale «Alessandro Manzoni » - Caserta Prof.ssa Angela Calandra

2. Google celebrated Maria Gaetana Agnesi with this doodle
May, 16th 2014
Google celebrated Maria Gaetana Agnesi with this doodle
Liceo Statale «Alessandro Manzoni » - Caserta Prof.ssa Angela Calandra

3. Who was Maria Gaetana Agnesi?
Liceo Statale «Alessandro Manzoni » - Caserta Prof.ssa Angela Calandra

4. Maria Gaetana Agnesi
(May, 16th 1718 – Jan, 9th 1799) was an Italian mathematician and philosopher.
She was the first woman to write a mathematics handbook and the first woman appointed as a Mathematics Professor at a university.
Liceo Statale «Alessandro Manzoni » - Caserta Prof.ssa Angela Calandra

5. A cubic curve was studied by Maria Gaetana Agnesi in 1748 and also studied by Fermat and Guido Grandi .
The name of this curve has a colorful history. Versaria, the name given by Grandi, originates from Latin “sinus versus”. In the course of time the word versaria took on another meaning.
Adversaria means a female that is contrary to God. Thus gradually the curve Versaria was named in English as the Witch.
Liceo Statale «Alessandro Manzoni » - Caserta Prof.ssa Angela Calandra

6. The curve has Cartesian equation
Liceo Statale «Alessandro Manzoni » - Caserta Prof.ssa Angela Calandra

7. Homework: Make your own research about this topic:
The witch of Agnesi approximates the spectral energy distribution of spectral lines, particularly X-ray lines.
Formally, the curve is equivalent to the probability density function of the Cauchy distribution.
Liceo Statale «Alessandro Manzoni » - Caserta Prof.ssa Angela Calandra

8. The cross-section of a smooth hill also has a similar shape
The cross-section of a smooth hill also has a similar shape. It has been used as the generic topographic obstacle in a flow in mathematical modeling.
Liceo Statale «Alessandro Manzoni » - Caserta Prof.ssa Angela Calandra