(1811 - 1832)
He was a very gifted young French mathematician, and his story is one of the most tragic in the history of mathematics. He was killed at the age of 20 in a duel that is still veiled in mystery. Before that, he made huge contributions to abstract algebra. He helped to found group theory as we know it today, and he was the first to use the term "group". Perhaps most importantly, he proved that it is impossible to solve a fifth-degree polynomial (or a polynomial of any higher degree) using radicals by studying permutation groups associated to polynomials. This area of algebra is still important today, which his last name is on the theory in his honor.
Who is he?
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[Not a solution]
I thought it was Henrik Abel who proved that the general fifth degree polynomial is not solvable by radicals.