Madhava of Sangamagrama, also known as Madhava Acharya, was a prominent Indian mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 14th century. He was born in Sangamagrama, a town in present-day Kerala, India. Madhava is often credited with significant contributions to the field of mathematics, particularly in the development of mathematical analysis and the discovery of infinite series.

Madhava's work involved sophisticated mathematical analysis, and he demonstrated a deep understanding of the properties of infinite series. He used these series to approximate various mathematical functions and showed an understanding of concepts that are now associated with calculus. Madhava is credited with discovering infinite series expansions for trigonometric functions such as sine, cosine, and arctangent. These series, known as Madhava series or Kerala series, laid the foundation for later developments in calculus. These discoveries, however, were not widely known outside of Kerala during his time.

Madhava also developed infinite series expansions to calculate the value of π. One of his notable contributions is the series for π/4, which is now known as the Madhava-Leibniz series. This series is a prototype for later developments in the calculation of π.

Madhava also made contributions to astronomy, including the computation of planetary positions. His work in this area was part of the broader tradition of Indian astronomy.

Madhava's mathematical ideas were documented in texts, but many of his original works have been lost over time. Some of the key texts associated with Madhava's contributions include the "Yukti-bhāṣā" and the "Karaṇa-paddhati." Madhava's contributions were part of the broader mathematical tradition in Kerala, known as the Kerala school of mathematics and astronomy. Unfortunately, much of the knowledge from this period was not transmitted to later generations or to other parts of the world. Madhava's work, along with that of other Kerala mathematicians, was rediscovered and acknowledged by Western scholars in the 19th and 20th centuries, highlighting the rich mathematical heritage of ancient India.

The Kerala school of mathematics, to which Madhava belonged, made significant advances in various mathematical concepts, including calculus and infinite series, well before similar developments occurred in Europe. Madhava's work is considered a crucial precursor to the later developments in calculus attributed to European mathematicians like Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. His legacy highlights the rich mathematical tradition in ancient India.