Mathematics

The Pythagorean Theorem: A 4,000-Year History

Paperback

Price:
$18.95/£15.99
ISBN:
Published:
Aug 15, 2010
2010
Pages:
280
Size:
6.13 x 9.25 in.
Illus:
8 b&w illus. 141 line illus. 2 tables.
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By any measure, the Pythagorean theorem is the most famous statement in all of mathematics. In this book, Eli Maor reveals the full story of this ubiquitous geometric theorem. Maor shows that the theorem, although attributed to Pythagoras, was known to the Babylonians more than a thousand years earlier. Pythagoras may have been the first to prove it, but his proof—if indeed he had one—is lost to us. The theorem itself, however, is central to almost every branch of science, pure or applied. Maor brings to life many of the characters that played a role in the development of the Pythagorean theorem, providing a fascinating backdrop to perhaps our oldest enduring mathematical legacy.


Awards and Recognition

  • Honorable Mention for the 2007 Best Professional/Scholarly Book in Mathematics, Association of American Publishers