> who uses the theorem two decades later for something about relatively
I assume that should read relativity*?
Pythagorean Theorem found on clay tablet 1k years older than Pythagoras (2009)
191–200 of 248 posts
Re: Pythagorean Theorem found on clay tablet 1k years older than Pythagoras (2009)
#192Pythagoras was specifically known for accumulating the wisdom of diverse cultures—supposedly he met Thales, was initiated as Egyptian priest in Hermopolis, spent time in Babylon after being captured, and was initiated into every mystery cult he could. And as a boy on his home island of Samos, he would have been exposed to the building of the largest stone temple in Ancient Greece (to Hera) and the incredible engineer…
> "The relationship between math and spirituality was very strong back then!" Seems to me this connection is having a resurgence now as people attempt to project the capabilities of computers beyond human capabilities, where the implications are necessarily bordering on spiritual. Examples include transhumanism, Yudkowsky-style absurdly extrapolated rationalism (Basilisk etc), the simulation hypothesis, AGI salvation…
> Examples include transhumanism, Yudkowsky-style absurdly extrapolated rationalism (Basilisk etc), the simulation hypothesis, AGI salvation hopes...
But those are all examples of ways to avoid spirituality.
Re: Pythagorean Theorem found on clay tablet 1k years older than Pythagoras (2009)
#193Has anyone found the source for that tablet? All I have found is this: >Note that quite a few descriptions on Babylonian tablets seem to cite a translation of a Pythagorean algorithm from a ca. 1900BC tablet by a Dennis Ramsey – I have not been able to find the original source of this anywhere.[0] The linked arctile cites wikipedia and bible-history.com. This book[1] misquotes the supposed tablet as being ycb 7289, p…
The source of the photo is cited in the article:
https://personal.math.ubc.ca/~cass/Euclid/ybc/ybc.html
This site has a detailed analysis and explains that it's from the Yale Babylonian Collection.
Re: Pythagorean Theorem found on clay tablet 1k years older than Pythagoras (2009)
#194https://personal.math.ubc.ca/~cass/Euclid/ybc/ybc.html
This is the original site about the tablet and has more detail and analysis than the Springer article.
Re: Pythagorean Theorem found on clay tablet 1k years older than Pythagoras (2009)
#195Earlier quoted context omitted.
I imagine back then things like number systems and methods of proving were just made up as they go.
Clay tablets and a stylus also less convenient than pen and paper.
That entirely depends on how close you are to high-clay-content muddy bank with a growth of reeds vs. how close you are to the nearest convenience store/office supply store.
Re: Pythagorean Theorem found on clay tablet 1k years older than Pythagoras (2009)
#196Why was this published in the Journal of Targeting, Measurement and Analysis for Marketing?
Re: Pythagorean Theorem found on clay tablet 1k years older than Pythagoras (2009)
#197This probably went up in smoke along soo many other knowledge gems at the Alexandria Library!!
Re: Pythagorean Theorem found on clay tablet 1k years older than Pythagoras (2009)
#198Pythagoras was specifically known for accumulating the wisdom of diverse cultures—supposedly he met Thales, was initiated as Egyptian priest in Hermopolis, spent time in Babylon after being captured, and was initiated into every mystery cult he could. And as a boy on his home island of Samos, he would have been exposed to the building of the largest stone temple in Ancient Greece (to Hera) and the incredible engineer…
Bro did Reddit/hacker-news on papyrus ...before the internet... :-D
Re: Pythagorean Theorem found on clay tablet 1k years older than Pythagoras (2009)
#199Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've personally worked on a project where we used a 3-4-5 right triangle to lay it out on the ground. Straight lines alone do not get you right angles.
You can get right angles with a straightedge and compass, both of which you can make on a construction site with string and pegs in the ground. It's just an instance of bisecting the angle. Which is more convenient in practice is situational.
Right. The big problem with accurately bisecting a 180 degree angle is you need to have access to points rather far in both directions from both points. If you want an accurate right-angle corner near the edge of a property that's flanked on two sides by fences, rivers, busy roads, etc., then you might not have convenient access to one of the anchor points needed to perform your bisection. (Or semi trucks snagging your rope might be inconvenient.)
The nice thing about Pythagorean triples for drawing out foundations is that you don't need access to any ground outside the foundation of your building. Being integers, you also don't need any measuring device apart from some rope. You just pace out a bit under 1/3 of the shortest side (or a bit under 1/5 the longest side, whichever is shorter) (call this an "'bout-right") length of rope. You then use your 'bout-right to make a 3'bout-right, a 4'bout-right, and a 5'bout-right piece of rope. Pull the three ropes tight in your perimeter, and you've got your right-angle for your foundation.
Re: Pythagorean Theorem found on clay tablet 1k years older than Pythagoras (2009)
#200I was surprised to learn that U.S. President Garfield devised a proof of Pythagoras' theorem. It got me wondering what other U.S. Presidents had an aptitude for math. Jefferson (3rd President) was quite fluent in geometry and surveying, designing his home in Monticello. Herbert Hoover (31st) was a mining engineer. Jimmy Carter (39th) was a nuclear engineer by training, having worked in the U.S. Navy's nuclear sub pro…
Obligatory link for those unfamiliar with the story: Jimmy Carter averted a full-scale nuclear meltdown in Canada at great personal risk.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/jimmy-carter-nuclear-meltd...