Pythagoras, an ancient Greek mathematician, is credited with proving and popularizing the theorem that bears his name.
While the relationship between the sides of a right-angled triangle (a² + b² = c²) was likely known to earlier civilizations, such as the Egyptians and Babylonians, it's believed that Pythagoras or his followers were the first to provide a formal proof of the theorem. These earlier civilizations used the relationship practically for construction and measurement purposes, but without a documented formal proof.
Here's a breakdown:
- Pythagoras (c. 570 – c. 495 BC): He lived in ancient Greece and is the namesake of the theorem. He or his school likely provided the first proof.
- Egyptians and Babylonians: They were aware of the relationship between the sides of right-angled triangles long before Pythagoras, using it for practical purposes such as construction. However, evidence suggests they didn't develop a general, provable theorem.
- The Theorem Itself: The theorem states that in a right-angled triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides.
Therefore, while the concept was known earlier, Pythagoras and his school are credited with formalizing and proving the theorem, hence its name.
