Richard Dedekind (mathematician)

Richard Dedekind was a German mathematician known for foundational work in number theory and abstract algebra. He introduced the concept of "Dedekind cuts," a method to rigorously define real numbers, helping to clarify the structure of continuous quantities like length and distance. Dedekind's work laid the groundwork for modern mathematics by formalizing concepts of infinity, set theory, and the nature of numbers, influencing how mathematicians understand the continuum and the logical foundation of mathematics itself.