Mathematics Historical Report - Pythagoras
Historical/Cultural Report
Famous Mathematician: Pythagoras
Introduction:
Pythagoras’ Theorem is actively used and is a crucial part of trigonometry in present-day mathematics. Pythagoras, living approximately from 570 – 495BC, in Greece, is believed to have founded the Pythagoras’ Theorem among a cult, which Aristotle believed to be the beginning of an advance in Mathematics. In fact, there is evidence that the theorem had been discovered and used perhaps a thousand years earlier than Pythagoras by the ancient Chinese (Haylock, 2010). Although there is dissent among the issue of who constructed the Theorem, it plays a fundamental role in today’s mathematics, particularly in measurements and equipment. It also led into the study of Geometry and trigonometry, having a central bearing as a base on its development.
Method:
The rule of Pythagoras is applied to determine an unknown side in right angled triangles, or to express that the triangle shown is a right-angled triangle.
A right-angled triangle contains a right angle (90°) and the theorem includes an equation to determine whether a triangle is or isn’t right-angled.
Haylock (2010) also identifies a concept, as the Pythagorean triple as three natural numbers that could be the lengths of the three sides of a right-angled triangle. For example, 5, 12 and 13 form a Pythagorean triple because 52 + 122 = 132. Other well known examples of Pythagorean tripes are 3, 4, 5 (because 9 + 16 = 25) and 5, 12, 13 (because 25 + 144 = 169).
Discussion:
As mentioned earlier, there are a range of real life scenarios wherein Pythagoras’ Theorem is used. Naturally, one individual would not be faced with all these scenarios, instead a range of individuals in their respective fields, could use Pythagoras’ Theorem on a daily basis. Students are the first collective group that is faced with the Theorem on a daily basis as they study geometry and trigonometry. They are exposed to a
Famous Mathematician: Pythagoras
Introduction:
Pythagoras’ Theorem is actively used and is a crucial part of trigonometry in present-day mathematics. Pythagoras, living approximately from 570 – 495BC, in Greece, is believed to have founded the Pythagoras’ Theorem among a cult, which Aristotle believed to be the beginning of an advance in Mathematics. In fact, there is evidence that the theorem had been discovered and used perhaps a thousand years earlier than Pythagoras by the ancient Chinese (Haylock, 2010). Although there is dissent among the issue of who constructed the Theorem, it plays a fundamental role in today’s mathematics, particularly in measurements and equipment. It also led into the study of Geometry and trigonometry, having a central bearing as a base on its development.
Method:
The rule of Pythagoras is applied to determine an unknown side in right angled triangles, or to express that the triangle shown is a right-angled triangle.
A right-angled triangle contains a right angle (90°) and the theorem includes an equation to determine whether a triangle is or isn’t right-angled.
Haylock (2010) also identifies a concept, as the Pythagorean triple as three natural numbers that could be the lengths of the three sides of a right-angled triangle. For example, 5, 12 and 13 form a Pythagorean triple because 52 + 122 = 132. Other well known examples of Pythagorean tripes are 3, 4, 5 (because 9 + 16 = 25) and 5, 12, 13 (because 25 + 144 = 169).
Discussion:
As mentioned earlier, there are a range of real life scenarios wherein Pythagoras’ Theorem is used. Naturally, one individual would not be faced with all these scenarios, instead a range of individuals in their respective fields, could use Pythagoras’ Theorem on a daily basis. Students are the first collective group that is faced with the Theorem on a daily basis as they study geometry and trigonometry. They are exposed to a
References: Coffey D, Strasser D, Phillips G, Nolan J, Matheson A, Kolsch P, et. al (2003) Maths Zone 8 Haylock, D. (2010). Mathematics explained for primary teachers (4th ed.). London: Sage Publications. Morett G (2007) The Pythagorean Theorem. Retrieved 14th September 2012 from: http://suite101.com/article/the-pythagorean-theorem-a21010 Weisstein, Eric W. "Pythagorean Theorem." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource. The rule of Pythagoras states that, for any right-angled triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse will be equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the two shorter sides (Coffey D et al. 2003): a2 + b2 = c2