In the world of mathematics, Pythagoras is a name that resonates with nearly everyone. Known best for the theorem that bears his name, this ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician has left a profound legacy that stretches well beyond the classrooms of today.
But did you know Pythagoras wasn’t the first to discover the theorem that carries his name? And did you know that despite the Pythagorean theorem being one of the most famous mathematical principles taught in schools worldwide, we know surprisingly little about Pythagoras himself?
Who was Pythagoras?
Pythagoras was born on the Greek island of Samos around 570 BC. Despite the scarcity of reliable sources about his life, we do know that he travelled widely in his youth, absorbing philosophical and mathematical wisdom from places like Egypt and Babylon.
Eventually, Pythagoras moved to Croton, a city in Southern Italy, where he founded a philosophical and religious school known as the Pythagorean Brotherhood. This secretive society was fascinated by the mystical properties of numbers, seeing mathematics as a way to understand the universe’s fundamental principles.
What is the Pythagorean Theorem?
The Pythagorean theorem is a simple but powerful mathematical principle: in a right-angled triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides. Often written as a^2 + b^2 = c^2, this theorem is a foundation of Euclidean geometry and has numerous applications in maths, physics, engineering, and more.
The Hidden History of the Theorem
Here’s where it gets interesting. Although the theorem is named after Pythagoras, there’s evidence to suggest that it was known to other cultures long before Pythagoras was born!
Artifacts from ancient Babylon, dating back to 1800 BC, contain tables of Pythagorean triples—sets of three whole numbers that satisfy the Pythagorean theorem. Similarly, ancient Indian mathematicians, as evidenced in the Baudhayana Sulba Sutra from around 800 BC, were aware of this principle. The ancient Egyptians might have used the theorem in their pyramid construction, although this is still a matter of debate among historians.
Given this, why does Pythagoras get the credit? Well, it’s believed that Pythagoras, or more likely his followers, were the first to provide a proof for the theorem, cementing its validity in the realm of formal mathematics.
A Lesson in Discovery
In wrapping up this little historical detour, we come to an important lesson about the nature of discovery. Knowledge, as illustrated by the Pythagorean theorem’s history, is often a cumulative endeavour, with ideas traversing time and space, taking on new forms and applications.
Whether you’re delving into the realm of algebra, exploring the cosmos through physics, or venturing into the world of coding, remember this: you’re part of a long, rich history of curiosity, exploration, and understanding that stretches back millennia. And who knows? Maybe one day, you’ll contribute a theorem, an idea, or a discovery that will inspire the learners of the future.
