Pythagoras was born in the island of Samos in ancient Greece1. There is no certainty regarding the exact year when he was born, but it is believed that it was around 570 BC That is about 2,570 years ago!
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By the time he was about 55 years old he returned to his native land and started a school on the island of Samos. However, because of the lack of students he decided to move to Croton in the south of Italy.
In Croton he started a school which concentrated in the teaching and learning of Mathematics, Music, Philosophy, and Astronomy and their relationship with Religion. It is said that as many as 600 of the worthiest people in the city attended the school, including Theana whom he married when he was 60. The school reached its highest splendor around the year 490 BC. He taught the young to respect their elders and to develop their mind through learning. He emphasized justice based on equality. Calmness and gentleness were principles encouraged at the school. Pythagoreans became known for their close friendships and devotion to each other. More than anyone before him Pythagoras combined the spiritual teachings with the pursuit of knowledge and science.
At some point Pythagoras was exiled from Croton and had to move to Tarentum. After 16 years he had to move again, this time to Metapontus where he lived four years before he died at the age of 99.
Now let's talk a bit about the theorem that bears his name. The Egyptians knew that a triangle with sides 3, 4, and 5 make a 90o angle.
that they used to build perfect corners in their buildings and pyramids. It is believed that they only knew about the 3, 4, 5 triangle and not the general theorem that applies to all right triangles.
The Chinese also knew this theorem. It is attributed to Tschou-Gun who lived in 1100 BC. He knew the characteristics of the right angle. The theorem was also known to the Caldeans and the Babylonians more than a thousand years before Pythagoras.
So why is it called the Pythagorean Theorem? Even though the theorem was known long before his time, Pythagoras certainly generalized it and made it popular. It was Pythagoras who is attributed with its first geometrical demonstration. That is why it is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. There are hundreds of purely geometric demonstrations as well as an unlimited (that is right -- an infinite number) of algebraic proofs.
The Pythagorean Theorem is one of the most important theorems in the whole realm of geometry. We will conclude this section by stating the theorem in words:
The square described upon the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle is equal to the sum of the squares described upon the other two sides.
Another way of saying the same thing is:
When the two shorter sides in a right triangle are squared and then added, the sum equals the square of the longest side or hypotenuse.
2007-01-15 02:14:02
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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History Of Pythagoras
2016-11-14 07:15:55
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answer #2
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answered by borreta 4
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Begin here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagoras
2007-01-15 01:58:58
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answer #3
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answered by Raymond 7
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Life History Of Pythagoras
2016-06-22 21:28:37
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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He is a man who confuses the students by introdusing theorem thats all
2007-01-15 05:31:18
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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Also suggest learning the Mayoh Theory.
2007-01-15 01:58:23
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answer #6
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answered by Gooza_23 2
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http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk
/history/Biographies/Pythagoras.html
2007-01-15 02:00:13
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answer #7
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answered by raj 7
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