Pythagoras

//**Biography

Pythagoras, also known as “The Father of Numbers,” is a great Ionian Greek mathematician and philosopher. He is greatly known for his working in the Pythagorean theorem. None of Pythagoras’s writings have survived so it is difficult to tell what he has done, but there are plenty of sources that have the same general idea of his workings. Pythagoras was born between 582 B.C. and 569 B.C. and died between 500 B.C. and 475 B.C. He was born in Samos, which is a Greek Island in eastern Aegean. His mother was Pythias and his father was Mnasarchus. When he was a young man he settled in Croton, Italy. This is where he met Thales and Thales impressed Pythagoras with his abilities and advised Pythagoras to go to Memphis, Egypt to study the priests where apparently were skilled in the ways of wisdom. It was in Memphis is where he learned most of the geometric principles. Later Back in Croton Pythagoras formed a male and female “school,” which was a school in which they were mostly aristocrats. After many years with the school the democrats persecuted the school and Pythagoras was exiled from croton. This happened ten years before he died.

Contributions to Mathematics

Since none of Pythagoras’s writings survived there is no direct evidence that he solved the many mathematical equations. Instead he made his students do most of the work, but for the most part researchers are sure that Pythagoras came up with most following “ideas.” Of course as you know he is most famous for the Pythagorean theorem, but his greatest contribution to mathematics is sound. He discovered that musical notes could be translated into mathematical equations. Also he believes in the harmony of spheres, which is the idea that all planets and stars move according to mathematical equations, which corresponds to musical notes thus creating a symphony. He also believed that everything was related to mathematics and that numbers were the ultimate reality and, through mathematics, everything could be predicted and measured in rhythmic patterns or cycles. He was also the first one to notice that the morning star (Phosphorus) and the evening star (Hesperus) were in fact one star. The Copernican Theory, which was the idea that the Earth was round and revolved around a central fire, was first discovered in Pythagoras’s school out of discussion between students and others in the school. Actually Pythagoras didn’t discover the Pythagorean theorem, but instead proved Euclid’s 47th proposition in geometry. This is still a great feat and is why it is called the Pythagorean theorem instead of Euclid’s Theorem. Well there you have it, Pythagoras’s life and accomplishments, now go use this information and make yourself and essay.

By: Ryan Cunningham

Citations

Crystal, Ellie. Pythagoras. July 9, 2007. February 24, 2008 .

Knierim, Thomas. Pythagoras (Samos, 582-500BC.) May 19, 2006. February 24, 2008 .

"Pythagoras of Samos." Wikipedia. Not specified. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. February 17, 2008 .

Gillingham, John. "Pythagoras." World Book Encyclopedia. 1998 ed.

Asimov, Isaac. Asimov's Biographical Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. Garden City: Doubledoy and Company, Inc., 1964.**//