Pythagoras by Jacqui Rogers

Pythagoras's Quotes

rog0011 — 2014-08-01 04:25:59 UTC

Do not say a little in many words but a great deal in a few.

This means that we should not say meaningless things in many words but meaningful things in a few words.

Brainy Quote. 2001. www.brainyqoute.com/quotes/authors/p/pythagoras.html (accessed 22nd July 2014

Who was Pythagoras?

rog0011 — 2014-08-03 04:38:50 UTC

Pythagoras is often referred to as the first pure mathematician. He was born on the island of Samos, Greece in 569 BC. Various writings place his death between 500 BC and 475 BC in Metapontum, Lucania, Italy. His father, Mnesarchus, was a gem merchant. His mother's name was Pythais. Pythagoras had two or three brothers.

It is fascinating that this website doesn't even give one answer but tells us that there are a few possibilities as to when Pythagoras died. Many other websites have just chosen a definitive answer as to when his death was.

Math open reference. 2009. http://www.mathopenref.com/pythagoras.html (accessed 1st August 2014)

Pythagoras's Musical Achievements

rog0011 — 2014-08-03 04:40:19 UTC

Pythagoras noticed that vibrating strings produce harmonious tones when the ratios of the lengths of the strings are whole numbers, and that these ratios could be extended to other instruments. In fact Pythagoras made remarkable contributions to the mathematical theory of music. He was a fine musician, playing the lyre, and he used music as a means to help those who were ill.

I really don't understand how people can think up such useful and ingenious things that practically change the world. Maybe Pythagoras had such an amazing mind because he was around the influence of some of the smartest people in history when he was young. I find it intriguing that basically all of Pythagoras's achievements involve mathematics. Although, when you think about how he thought that the whole world evolved around numbers, it doesn't seem too out of the ordinary.

Pythagoras. http://www2.stetson.edu/~efriedma/periodictable/html/Y.htm (accessed 6th August 2014)

Pythagoras's Mathematical Achievements

rog0011 — 2014-08-06 07:11:23 UTC

He is mainly remembered for what has become known as Pythagoras’ Theorem (or the Pythagorean Theorem): that, for any right-angled triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse (the longest side, opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the square of the other two sides (or “legs”). Written as an equation: a² + b² = c². What Pythagoras and his followers did not realize is that this also works for any shape: thus, the area of a pentagon on the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the pentagons on the other two sides, as it does for a semi-circle or any other regular (or even irregular shape.

The Pythagorean Theorem sounds really complex and hard to understand. I find it interesting that many sources say that Pythagoras was very secretive and there were not many recordings of his work, yet we have a very detailed description of his work (the Pythagorean Theorem).

The Story of Mathematics. 2010. http://www.storyofmathematics.com/greek_pythagoras.html (accessed 6th August 2014)

Pythagoras's Life as a Married Man

rog0011 — 2014-08-07 09:58:05 UTC

Some historians say that Pythagoras was married to a woman named Theano and had a daughter Damo, and a son named Telauges, who succeeded Pythagoras as a teacher and possibly taught Empedocles. Others say that Theano was one of his students, not his wife, and say that Pythagoras never married and had no children.

This source says that Pythagoras either married Theano or that she was only a pupil at his school. Other sources say that Theano was a pupil of his and when she was still quite young and when Pythagoras was 60 they married. It seems that there is no definitive answer as to who, when or even if he married.

Math Open Reference. 2009. http://www.mathopenref.com/pythagoras.html (accessed 7th August 2014)

rog0011 — 2014-08-08 01:35:54 UTC

rog0011 — 2014-08-08 01:38:57 UTC

rog0011 — 2014-08-08 01:42:01 UTC

rog0011 — 2014-08-08 01:43:00 UTC

rog0011 — 2014-08-08 01:43:41 UTC

If it wan't for me (Pythagoras)...

rog0011 — 2014-08-12 06:34:45 UTC

If it wasn't for me (Pythagoras)...

We wouldn't have the knowledge of the Pythagoras Theorem or a lot of the mathematical theory of music. Without a great mind such as his, we would be a very different world than we are today!