Mauro Picone, Sandro Faedo, and the numerical solution of partial differential equations in Italy (1928--1953) (Q2453474)

The paper under review is intended as a contribution to the history of the numerical analysis of partial differential equations in Italy from 1928 to 1953, namely just before the expansion of electronic computers. This study is done in relationship with some major contributions to partial differential equations and is centered around the crucial contributions of Mauro Picone and Sandro Faedo. After a short introduction that recalls the main contributions to the development of the numerical analysis of solutions of differential equations, the authors point out the importance of the major contributions of Picone, as a leader of applied mathematics in Italy in the first half of the 20th century. Next, the authors provide a biographical sketch of Faedo and recall some of his contributions to numerical solutions of partial differential equations. A critical assessment of the influence and legacy of Picone's and Faedo's work in numerical PDEs is provided in the final part of the present paper.