Early Greek Mathematics

Math 390 Lecture 4

Dr. Janssen

Introduction

Context

  • Greek life circa 600 BCE
  • Learned not to accept answers handed down from ancient times
  • World was knowable by rational inquiry
  • Idea of mathematical proof comes from the Greeks
  • Sources are copies of copies of copies and typically date around 1000 CE (originals: 300 CE)

Greek Numeration

Greek Symbol Roman Greek Symbol Roman
\(\alpha\) 1 \(\iota\) 10
\(\beta\) 2 \(\kappa\) 20
\(\gamma\) 3 \(\lambda\) 30
\(\delta\) 4 \(\mu\) 40
\(\epsilon\) 5 \(\nu\) 50
\(\digamma\) 6 \(\xi\) 60
\(\zeta\) 7 \(o\) 70
\(\eta\) 8 \(\pi\) 80
\(\theta\) 9 koppa 90

Early Greek Mathematicians

Thales of Miletus (624-547 BCE)

  • Earliest Greek mathematician
  • Prediction of a solar eclipse in 585 BCE
  • SAS application to measuring distance to a ship at sea
  • Proved the base angles of an isosceles triangle are equal
  • Started science as we know it

Pythagoras (572-497 BCE)

  • Settled in Crotona in 530 BCE
  • More mystic than rational thinker; commanded great respect from his followers
  • “Number was the substance of all things”
  • Interested in different types of numbers (e.g., triangular, etc.)