Gr9 | Pythagoras: Home

Biographical information and philosophical thinking.

Basic biography

The article offers information on mathematician Pythagoras. Topics discussed include his invention of the Pythagorean theorem and mathematical proofs; views of historian Karen Eva Carr, on the use of equation by Babylonian and Egyptian mathematicians before Pythagoras; and work of Pythagoras on space and time.

Chronologically outlines Pythagoras' life.

Looks at the theorem in architecture/construction, technology, and gaming/computer graphics.

Practical uses of the theorem in construction, navigation, technology, engineering, astronomy.

Theorem's use in roads, air travel, robotics, mechanics, electronics.

Practical use mostly in light tech, such as LIDAR and fiber optic cables.

Designed for children, this website has interactive practical applications of the theorem.

Considers different ways the theorem shows up naturally in ancient use cases.

Outlines the how Babylonians used the mathematical principles of the theorem for land boundaries.

Explanation of philosophy

More in-depth look at the philosophy

An online reproduction of a chapter from the book A History of Philosophy by Copleston.

This paper presents the early investigations about the nature of sound of the Pythagoreans, and how they started a tradition that remains valid up to present times—the use of numbers in representing natural reality

Overview from an online magazine.

Brief biographical information is included on Pythagoras, believed to have lived from approximately 569-475 BCE, as well as the historical context of this era. The author goes on to explore prime numbers from a geometric perspective, tessellation, and cubes.

A comparison of ancient Greek and Chinese math.

Looks at evidence of the theorem being discovered in Babylon.

Considers Babylon, China, India, and Pythagoras.

Encyclopedic entry for the theorem.

The article discusses a study by Daniel Mansfield at the University of New South Wales in Sydney which found that ancient Babylonians understood key concepts in geometry 1000 years before the Greek philosopher Pythagoras.

Plimpton 322 is one of the most sophisticated and interesting mathematical objects from antiquity. It is often regarded as teacher’s list of school problems, however new analysis suggests that it relates to a particular geometric problem in contemporary surveying.

How the ancient Egyptians used the concept of the theorem for building.

A recent study challenges the ancient Greek belief, often attributed to Pythagoras, that musical notes sound best in certain mathematical combinations.

We shall simply comment that in mathematical terms, the problem is that there can be no one perfect musical scale.

Explores the development of various scales associated with Western classical music, arguably the most influential genre of music of the present time.

Topics of discussion includes philosophers draw a connection between music and the cosmos and its creator. Bach's St. Matthew Passion is a ix of indifference and hostility. The Pythagoreans, reviews numbers as a guide to reality, analyzed that the music could be described in mathematical terms as the intervals between notes can be the ratios between strings.

Consideration of music as part of mathematics; Use of mathematics in determining the rules of music; Incorporation of music theory in mathematical treatise.

The integration of music and science is embodied in the music of the spheres, the ancient concept that the universe is ordered in a manner consistent with principles of musical harmony.

Focuses less on the math and music, more on the story of how Pythagoras came upon the idea.