John Tukey

John_Tukey

John Wilder Tukey (June 16, 1915 – July 26, 2000) was an American mathematician and statistician best known for his development of the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm and the coining of the term "bit". He made significant contributions to the field of statistics and was a pioneer in the field of data analysis.

Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]

John Tukey was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He attended Brown University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1936 and a master's degree in 1937. He then went on to Princeton University, where he received a Ph.D. in mathematics in 1939.

Career[edit | edit source]

Tukey began his career at Princeton University and later joined Bell Labs, where he worked on various projects, including the development of the FFT algorithm. He was a professor of mathematics and statistics at Princeton and also served as a consultant for Bell Labs.

Contributions to Statistics[edit | edit source]

Tukey made numerous contributions to the field of statistics, including the development of exploratory data analysis (EDA), which emphasizes the importance of using graphical techniques to understand data. He also introduced the box plot, a graphical representation of data distribution.

Fast Fourier Transform[edit | edit source]

One of Tukey's most notable achievements was the development of the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm, which he co-developed with James Cooley in 1965. The FFT is an efficient way to compute the Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) and has applications in various fields, including signal processing, image processing, and data compression.

Terminology[edit | edit source]

Tukey is credited with coining several terms that are now standard in the field of computer science and statistics. He introduced the term "bit" as a contraction of "binary digit" and the term "software" to describe computer programs.

Awards and Honors[edit | edit source]

Throughout his career, Tukey received numerous awards and honors, including the National Medal of Science in 1973. He was a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Personal Life[edit | edit source]

Tukey was married to Elizabeth Page, and they had no children. He was known for his eccentric personality and his passion for both mathematics and statistics.