Why is Pythagoras often associated with the theorem?

HAKIZIMANA Maurice

Pythagoras, a Greek philosopher and mathematician of the 6th century BC, is often associated with the famous Pythagorean theorem, which states that in a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides. Although this theorem is attributed to Pythagoras, archaeological discoveries and historical research indicate that it existed long before him.

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Origins of the Theorem

There is evidence that civilizations such as the Babylonians and Egyptians knew relationships similar to the Pythagorean Theorem centuries before Pythagoras. For example, Babylonian mathematical tablets, such as Plimpton Tablet 322, dated to about 1800 BCE, contain calculations of Pythagorean triples (sets of three integers that satisfy the theorem’s relationship).

In Egypt, ropes tied to form a right triangle (3, 4, 5) were used to draw right angles, particularly in architecture.

Why is the theorem attributed to Pythagoras?

1. The Pythagorean School: Pythagoras founded a school of thought in Crotona (in present-day Italy) where his followers, the Pythagoreans, sought to understand the world through mathematics. In their system, numbers represented universal truths and had an almost mystical value.Although the theorem may have existed before Pythagoras, his school was probably the first to formally prove the theorem in an abstract mathematical framework, making this relationship part of their philosophy.
2. The influence of tradition: In ancient times, it was common to attribute ideas or discoveries to famous masters. Since Pythagoras was a prominent and charismatic figure in mathematical and mystical thought, his disciples and other thinkers naturally linked this discovery to his name. It was probably through oral tradition and transmission that he became associated with the theorem.
3. The impact of his school: The Pythagoreans were influential scholars of the time and helped spread the theorem throughout the Greek world. Thanks to them, the mathematical relationship in a right triangle was not only used, but also considered a universal truth related to the nature of number and geometry, which strengthened the attribution to Pythagoras.

Who popularized this attribution?

Greek philosophers and mathematicians such as Plato and Euclid contributed greatly to making the theorem known in the Greek world, long after Pythagoras’ death.

PLATO

Euclid

In The Elements, Euclid (in the 3rd century BC) gave a rigorous demonstration, which anchored this theorem in the history of mathematics as a Pythagorean discovery. Euclid’s work was widely disseminated and studied in the following centuries, thus reinforcing the idea that Pythagoras was at its origin.

In summary

Although Pythagoras may not have discovered the theorem himself, his school played a vital role in formalizing and disseminating this mathematical concept. The theorem is named after him because of the influence of the Pythagorean school and Pythagoras’ association with research on numbers and geometry. This attribution has thus become a tradition in the history of mathematics.

This world,

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