The Greeks were influenced by the mathematics of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, but they also developed their own original mathematical theories and methods.
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The Greeks were not the inventors of mathematics, but they did make significant contributions to the field. They were influenced by the mathematics of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, but they also developed their own original mathematical theories and methods.
One of the most famous Greek contributions to mathematics is their development of geometry. The philosopher Plato believed that geometry was the key to understanding the universe, and mathematics in general was highly valued in Greek society.
One of the most famous mathematicians from Ancient Greece is Euclid. Euclid wrote “Elements,” a book that became the basis for modern geometry. The book includes definitions, postulates, and propositions that are still taught in schools today. In fact, “Elements” is second only to the Bible in the number of editions published.
Another famous Greek mathematician is Pythagoras. He is known for the 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. This theorem is still used today in geometry and in many other fields, including architecture, physics, and even music.
It is not clear exactly where the Greeks got their mathematical knowledge, but it is believed that they were influenced by the Babylonians and Egyptians. The Greeks were skilled at adapting and building upon the knowledge of other cultures, and they were able to make significant contributions to mathematics as a result.
In summary, the Greeks were not the inventors of mathematics, but they made significant contributions to the field. They were influenced by other cultures, but they developed their own original theories and methods. As Pythagoras said, “there is geometry in the humming of the strings, there is music in the spacing of the spheres.”
| Famous Greek Mathematicians | Contributions |
|---|---|
| Euclid | Developing the basis for modern geometry in his book “Elements” |
| Pythagoras | Discovering the Pythagorean Theorem, which is still used today in many fields |
| Archimedes | Calculating the value of pi and making significant contributions to calculus |
| Thales | Studying the properties of circles and discovering the theorem that two triangles are congruent if they have two angles and one side equal |
| Diophantus | Known as the father of algebra, he developed algebraic notation and solved equations with multiple unknowns |
Here are some additional responses to your query
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.
Associated video
The video explores the roots of Greek mathematics, highlighting the Greeks’ passion for the subject and their emphasis on proofs. Although little original work remains, historians have reconstructed the Greeks’ mathematical ideas and theories. Additionally, the video discusses the Greeks’ numeral system, which consisted of 24 letters from the Greek alphabet and three Phoenician letters. This system was additive, and bar extensions or accents were used to differentiate numerals from normal language. It is speculated that all of the mathematicians and their discoveries discussed in the series would have been written and solved using this numeral system.
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One may also ask, How was math taught in ancient Greece? Answer to this: The manner of instruction in the Lyceum was the same as that in the Academy and also the Pythagorean School years before. Groups of students would gather around and ask questions of a more learned master who would, in turn, attempt to answer them and then a discussion would commence on the subject.
Also asked, What did the Greeks use for math? The response is: The Greeks had two primary forms of enumeration, both dating from around 800–500 BC. In Attic Greek (Attica = Athens) strokes were used for 1–4 and larger numerals used the first letter of the words for 5, 10, 100, 1000 and 10000. For example, Πεντε (pente) is Greek for five, whence Π denoted the number 5.
Furthermore, Did math come from Greek? The answer is: The study of mathematics as a "demonstrative discipline" began in the 6th century BC with the Pythagoreans, who coined the term "mathematics" from the ancient Greek μάθημα (mathema), meaning "subject of instruction".
Similarly one may ask, Did the Greeks learn math from the Egyptians?
From the earliest, the great Greek mathematicians, including Pythagoras (~500 BC), Thales (~530 BC), and Exodus (the teacher of Aristotle) all learned much of their mathematics from Egypt (Mesopotamia, and possibily India) – even the concept of zero.