Pythagorean theorem

Ancient Mathematics

By kevinc23
  • Earliest Evidence of Tallying/Counting
    35,000 BCE

    Earliest Evidence of Tallying/Counting

    Tally marks in Bones and Sticks, evidence of concrete idea of value.
    Abstract Concept of numbers would not come around for millennia.
  • Egyptian Numeral System
    2700 BCE

    Egyptian Numeral System

    Earliest Base 10 system.
    Basic Arithmetic, Multiplication and Division.
  • Earliest Roman Numerals
    800 BCE

    Earliest Roman Numerals

    Base 10 System, very similar to Egyptian in writing.
    No significant mathematical advances, too complicated.
  • 530 BCE

    Pythagoras Opens School in Croton

    Pythagorean Theorem conceptualized by Pythagoras and his Students.
    Logic-based system of Proofs.
  • Hippasus Discovers Irrational Numbers
    500 BCE

    Hippasus Discovers Irrational Numbers

    A student of Pythagoras, used Pythagorean Theorem to find √2.
    Irrational numbers (Fractions without whole integers) conceptualized.
  • Greek Numeral System Fully Established
    450 BCE

    Greek Numeral System Fully Established

    Another Base 10 System.
    Focus on Geometry, arithmetic complicated.
  • Plato Opens School in Athens
    387 BCE

    Plato Opens School in Athens

    Identified the Platonic Solids.
    5 regular symmetrical 3-dimensional shapes
  • Plato Invents the Alarm Water Clock
    380 BCE

    Plato Invents the Alarm Water Clock

    Students miss lectures in the morning.
    Water Clock functionality added whistle to alert those sleeping nearby.
  • Euclid Writes “The Elements”
    300 BCE

    Euclid Writes “The Elements”

    First Publication of 465 theorems and proofs.
    Known as the "Father of Geometry"
  • Muhammad Al-Khwarizmi Uses Zero and Decimal System
    660

    Muhammad Al-Khwarizmi Uses Zero and Decimal System

    Pushed for the use of 0-9 system.
    Led to the use of Algebra for problem solving
  • Fibonacci Publishes "Liber Abaci"
    1202

    Fibonacci Publishes "Liber Abaci"

    Promoted European use of the 0-9 system (succeeded).
    Expressed the Fibonacci sequence in nature.
  • Madhava Uses a Series of Fractions to Find Pi
    1425

    Madhava Uses a Series of Fractions to Find Pi

    Added and subtracted Odd Number Fractions leading to infinity.
    Calculated the value of pi up to 13 decimals, (the largest at the time).
  • 1545

    Gerolamo Cardano Publishes "Ars Magna"

    First concept of Complex Numbers: √-1, a + bi.
    Stole concept from Niccolò Fontana and worked with Lodovico Ferrari; failed to properly credit either for his publication.
  • Pascal and Binomial Theorem

    Pascal and Binomial Theorem

    Created Pascal's Triangle for use in Binomial equations.
    Used the Triangle to prove patterns of different number sequences.

  • Leibniz Develops the Binary System

    Base 2 System of 1's and 0's.
    Became the main programming of computers.

  • Leibniz Publishes his Work on Calculus

    Worked on Calculus, knowing Newton was also working on it.
    Published his version first.

  • Newton Publishes his "Principia"

    Discussed concepts of Gravity and his version of Calculus.
    Accused Leibniz of Plagiarism.
    Newton credited as first to discover Calculus, Leibniz credited as first to publish Calculus (We ironically use Leibniz's notation over Newton's).
  • Euler Solves the Seven Bridges of Königsberg Problem

    Euler Solves the Seven Bridges of Königsberg Problem

    Crossing the seven bridges all in one path without recrossing any.
    Euler proved this impossible.
  • Einstein Publishes Theory of Relativity

    Einstein Publishes Theory of Relativity

    Gravitational attraction is because of the warping of space and time.
    Predicted the idea of Gravitational Waves(1915) .
  • Alan Turing Theorizes a Programmable Computer

    Alan Turing Theorizes a Programmable Computer

    Used roll of tape with instructions to "Program."
    Used to solve problems using Algorithms, impossible problems would never stop trying to be solved.

  • Gravity Waves Proven!

    Observed by LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) 100 years after Einstein's prediction!
  • Kevin Researches Mathematics For Western Civ at AMDA

    Kevin Researches Mathematics For Western Civ at AMDA