A thousand years before Pythagoras, Babylonians already mastered right-angled triangles

The name of Pythagoras He is undeniably recognized as one of the great exponents of Mathematics. Similarly, his “Pythagorean Theorem” is a cornerstone of Geometry.

However, the story behind these names holds a surprising revelation: this fundamental equation was not, in fact, an unprecedented discovery by Pythagoras. That’s right!

The question came to light from a Babylonian clay tablet, dated 1800 BC. The artifact reveals that the theorem was already known centuries before the birth of the famous Greek mathematician.

Origin of Babylonian mathematical tablets

The Babylonian mathematical tablets, priceless historical artifacts, date back to different periods in the history of Babylonwhich spanned roughly from the 18th century BC to the 6th century BC

During this time, the Babylonians developed a sophisticated mathematical system that found application in many practical spheres of their lives.

Among these tablets, “Plimpton 322” stands out, which presents a list of numbers related to right triangles.

Image: Wikimedia Commons/Reproduction

The Babylonian mathematical tablets represent tangible testimony to the advanced mathematical knowledge of the Babylonians.

These artifacts contained a wide range of mathematical and geometric information, ranging from math problems to calculations, tables of numbers and procedures for solving complex challenges.

The Babylonians demonstrated remarkable skill in measuring land, solving geometric problems, and performing complex arithmetic calculations.

These skills were employed in numerous practical applications, including measuring farmland and constructing buildings.

The ‘Babylonian Pythagorean Theorem’

Although the Babylonians did not formalize the “Pythagorean Theorem” in the same way as Pythagoras and his school in Greece Anciently, they used specific numerical relationships in their tablets to calculate the lengths of the sides of right triangles.

But, just as Pythagoras would do centuries later, they already recognized the existence of a mathematical relationship between the lengths of the sides of these geometric figures.

Pythagoras’ theorem, as it is currently known, establishes that, in a right-angled triangle, the square of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the legs (the other two sides).

Although the Babylonians did not formally state the theorem in this way, their tablets reveal remarkable examples of how they applied this mathematical knowledge in practice.

Image: Canva/Reproduction

The Babylonian mathematical tablets remain fascinating proof of the depth of the Babylonians’ mathematical and geometric knowledge.

They attest to how mathematics was practically applied in their everyday lives and help connect the roots of modern mathematics to ancient civilizations.

Pythagoras, although celebrated for his theorem, was not the pioneer in its discovery. The Babylonians, centuries before their time, demonstrated a practical understanding of numerical relationships in triangles rectangles.

The Babylonian mathematical tablets represent a historical treasure that continues to be studied and admired, illuminating the fact that the fascination with history and mathematics transcends time and cultures.

They remind us of the depth of mathematical knowledge present in ancient civilizations and the importance of recognizing these contributions to a more complete understanding of history general — and not just mathematics.