Subject: [HM] earliest Pythagorean theorem
From: Richard Mankiewicz (richard@tutorcom.dircon.co.uk)
Date: Mon Jan 10 2000 - 00:46:12 EST
Dear list members
I'd like your help in establishing current thoughts on the first
appearance of the so-called Pythagorean theorem.
It would also be helpful to unpack some different definitions of
'earliest'.
- the earliest artefact with the theorem explicitly stated
- the earliest artefact where the theorem is implicitly used
- the earliest artefact where a demonstration or proof is given
- the earliest dates for each of the above three categories but
based on references to earlier materials or works now lost, or
conjectures on such dates.
In one book it mentions that the Babylonian tablets are 'one of the
earliest' uses of the theorem without anywhere stating what is
thought to be the earliest.
Thanks for your assistance.
Richard Mankiewicz
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