Final answer:
Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, James Watt invented the improved steam engine, and Thomas Edison invented the electric bulb.
Step-by-step explanation:
Eli Whitney (1765-1825) invented the cotton gin. James Watt's invention was the improved steam engine. Thomas Edison's significant invention was the electric bulb.
The inventors and inventions are paired as follows: Eli Whitney with the cotton gin, Henry Bessemer with mass steel production, Thomas Edison with the electric bulb, James Watt with the improved steam engine, and Louis Pasteur with pasteurization.
Each inventor is matched with his corresponding invention:
a. Eli Whitney - v. Cotton gin.
b. Henry Bessemer - i. Mass steel production (Bessemer process).
c. Thomas Edison - iv. Electric bulb.
d. James Watt - ii. Improved steam engine.
e. Louis Pasteur - iii. Pasteurization.
Eli Whitney was not only the inventor of the cotton gin, which revolutionized the cotton industry by efficiently separating seeds from fiber, but he also innovated with the concept of interchangeable parts, contributing greatly to the manufacturing sector. Thomas Edison, known for over a thousand patents, made a significant impact with his invention of the electric bulb. Henry Bessemer contributed to mass steel production with the Bessemer process, which changed the way steel was manufactured, influencing the construction and transport industries. James Watt improved the steam engine, which played a pivotal role in transportation and the industrial revolution. Louis Pasteur's pasteurization process significantly improved food safety and extended shelf life, benefitting public health.