The Greeks created math to better understand and describe the natural world around them, as well as to solve practical problems such as land measurement and commerce.
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The Greeks created math, not just for the sake of numbers, but to understand and describe the natural world around them. According to Mathigon, “For the Greeks, mathematics wasn’t just a tool for commerce and trade but a passion and an integral part of what it meant to be civilized”. This quote perfectly encapsulates the Greek’s mindset when it came to mathematics.
The Greeks made many important discoveries in the field of mathematics. Some of the most significant include:
- The concept of infinity
- The Pythagorean Theorem
- The geometric proof of the existence of irrational numbers
- The discovery of conic sections, such as the circle, ellipse, parabola, and hyperbola
- The creation of trigonometry
Greek mathematicians believed that math was the key to understanding the universe. For example, Pythagoras believed that numbers were the fundamental building blocks of the universe and that everything could be explained through mathematics.
One of the other reasons that the Greeks created math was to solve practical problems. For example, they needed to measure land and keep track of commerce. This is why much of Greek mathematics was focused on geometry and arithmetic.
Overall, the Greeks created mathematics to better understand the world around them and to solve practical problems. As Archimedes once said, “Mathematics is the queen of the sciences.” The Greeks certainly proved this to be true with their important discoveries and lasting contributions to the field.
| Greek Mathematicians | Contribution to Mathematics |
|---|---|
| Pythagoras | The Pythagorean Theorem |
| Euclid | The Elements |
| Archimedes | The Law of the Lever |
| Thales | Theorems in Geometry |
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In “The Greek Legacy: How the Ancient Greeks shaped modern mathematics,” the concept of proof is discussed. Ancient Greek mathematicians developed the idea of proof over 2,500 years ago, which established mathematics as a way of understanding and testing the reality of the world. By creating convincing arguments to demonstrate whether something is true or false, the Greeks laid the foundation for modern mathematics. Euclid’s development of proof with basic assumptions called axioms has led to modern mathematical understandings in fields like cryptography and engineering.
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Faced with the mathematics developed by previous civilizations – such as the Phoenician or Egyptian –, the Greeks saw in this discipline the key not only to understanding the world, but also to reaching absolute truth. For them, mathematics was above its obvious usefulness: it was a supreme form of truth and beauty.
The Greeks invented mathematics out of the desire to explain natural phenomena and to reach absolute truth and beauty. They were influenced by some of their neighbours, especially Egypt, where they learned new skills and knowledge. Mathematics and philosophy developed together almost intertwined in ancient Greece.
Ancient Greek mathematics was mainly born out of the desire to explain natural phenomena prevalently. Mathematics and philosophy developed together almost intertwined. The philosophers tried to prove their theories with the help of mathematical theories and explanations.
Faced with the mathematics developed by previous civilizations – such as the Phoenician or Egyptian –, the Greeks saw in this discipline the key not only to understanding the world, but also to reaching absolute truth. For them, mathematics was above its obvious usefulness: it was a supreme form of truth and beauty.
The birth of Greek mathematics owes its impetus to the influence of some of its neighbours, especially Egypt. During the 26th Dynasty of Egypt (c. 685–525 BCE), the ports of the Nile were opened to Greek trade for the first time and important Greek figures such as Thales and Pythagoras visited Egypt bringing with them new skills and knowledge.
Mathematics was developed before the Greeks and in other places on earth independently. It was developed in Babylonia and Egypt (and the ancient Greeks said they initially learned mathematics from the Babylonians and Egyptians) as well as India, China, and elsewhere.
But the Greeks created a mathematics of a different kind. It was formal mathematics with explicit axioms, precise definitions, and proofs that relied on strict logical deduction.
Even now, most mathematics courses before college aren’t formal in that sense.
You also ask if all people have a sense of mathematics. Although some cultures didn’t develop much mathematics, those that had a need for it did. It’s one of those things that’s needed to advance civilization. There seems to be no impediment to creating mathematics.
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