Department of Theory of Functions and Approximations of Kazan Federal University celebrates its birthday in spring. It was created at the Mechanics and Mathematics Faculty in April 1988 and began operating in September. The establishment of the department was caused by the need to introduce courses in applied mathematics into the learning process. For instance, Numerical Methods, Mathematical Optimization, Solution of Extremal Problems, Computer Science and Application of IT.
Certainly, the Department did not come out of nowhere. It is based on the works of predecessors, on the achievements of outstanding Russian mathematicians. Firstly, we note an influence of P.L. Chebyshev, one of the classics, scientific grandson of N.I. Lobachevsky. Professors of the Department are continuing research of academician L.V. Kantorovich (who was awarded the Nobel Prize) in constructive theory of functions and approximate methods of analysis. Creation of the Kazan School of Function Theory is due to Professor B.M. Gagaev, who educated more than 50 students. Initiator of the organization of the department and its permanent head for the first 20 years was B.G. Gabdulkhaev, professor, corresponding member of Tatarstan. Currently, 12 professors and 5 engineers are working at the Department of Theory of Functions and Approximations. Since April 2008, the department has been headed by Professor F.G. Avkhadiev.
A graduate of the department receives specialization "real analysis". The Department has two computer labs. Postgraduate study is based on specializations: 01.01.01 (real, complex and functional analysis) and 01.01.02 (differential equations, dynamical systems, and optimal control). Since 2011, magistracy of specialization “Theory of functions and Information Technology” has been organized.
In 2009, on the basis of our department Research and Education Center "Extremal problems of complex analysis" was established. Scientific activity at the Department is initiated by Professors to develop new directions and attract students’ attention to research on topical issues of mathematics and computer science and it is supported by the Russian Found for Basic Research.
Professors of the department have close connections with many universities and research organizations of Kazan and other cities of Russia and with foreign scientists (Germany, England, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other countries). Thanks to this students majoring in our department, are doing practical work at the department, as well as in many other educational or research organizations, under the guidance of leading experts.
Teachers of the department are teaching all courses related with approximation theory and computational methods.
The department teaches the most important courses:
Department teaches a lot of special courses about contemporary problems of the theory of functions and approximations, numerical methods and programming on a computer. There are three computer labs at the department.
Currently, the focus of the department in the scientific field is on the following interconnected large-scale scientific problems:
The Department provided substantial assistance to the State Institute of Applied Optics, USSR Ministry of Defense under a contract on technical and scientific cooperation between the KSU and GIPO. Department also participates in Vavilov’s technical and scientific society of devices making, assists other related departments of the Tatarstan republic. There is a branch of the chair in Naberezhnye Chelny city.
The department conducts a research seminar named "theory the approximation and its application".The main theme of seminar – modern questions of functions theory and their approximation, applied functional analysis and computational methods, computers and programming. Furthermore, there are two scientific seminars in the department: the first deals with the solution of problems in electrodynamics, and the second is devoted to computers and programming.