Pythagoreus or Bhaskara? The “Pythagorean Theorem” is one of the most remarkable mathematical achievements of ancient times, and it has been attributed to the Indian mathematician Bhāskara II.
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Is the theorem to be attributed to Pythagoreus?
The Baudhāyana Sulba Sūtra states the standard alluded to now in the vast majority of the world as the Pythagorean Hypothesis. The standard was known to various old civilizations, including additionally the Greek and the Chinese, and was kept in Mesopotamia as far back as 1800 BCE.
Generally, the Sulbasūtra-s don’t contain evidence of the guidelines which they depict. The standard expressed in the Baudhāyana Sulba Sūtra is:
दीर्घचतुरस्रस्याक्ष्णया रज्जुः पार्श्वमानी तिर्यग् मानी च यत् पृथग् भूते कुरूतस्तदुभयं करोति ॥ dīrghachatursrasyākṣaṇayā rajjuḥ pārśvamānī, tiryagmānī, cha yatpṛthagbhūte kurutastadubhayāṅ karoti.
This influential theorem states that the sum of the squares of any two sides of a right triangle is equal to the square of its hypotenuse. In India, this theorem was established based on Brahmasphuta Siddhanta, an astronomical treatise written by Bhaskara II in 1150 again verified by Nilakantha Somayaji (1444-1545) in his work Tantrasangraha.
The genius Euclid later encapsulated Bhaskara’s results into a concise form as part of his seminal work Elements which remains an inspirational book for students and teachers alike today.
The Pythagorean theorem, foundational to the world of mathematics and geometry, was not “discovered” by the famously brilliant Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras, but rather taken from Indian sources.
This theory of right triangles was presented in India centuries before Pythagoras’ time as what is now known as Baudhayana’s theorem. Though Pythagoras may not have been aware of its origin at the time, his work was essentially plagiarized from sources in India and other parts of Asia, who had already developed mathematical systems that utilized this theorem for their own purposes.
Theory Behind the stolen story……..
The ancient, virtually-untold story of how the beloved Pythagorean theorem, the mathematical cornerstone that underpins modern geometry, was covertly stolen from India has been shrouded in secrecy for centuries.
Though there are some speculations, it’s believed to have occurred somewhere around 500 B.C., when a talented Greek philosopher stumbled upon texts detailing essential elements of Indian mathematics and made an unauthorized and likely clandestine journey to India disguised as an ignorant tourist.
Numidian Latin author Apuleius’ statement that Pythagoras had visited South India 100-300 years before Alexander the Great.
It also has been claimed that books like Surya Siddhanta and the Shulba Sutras established the groundwork for the Pythagorean hypothesis.
After taking detailed notes as well as memorizing the basics of the mathematical principles taught by Indians, he went back to Greece and created a false narrative about his illustrious discovery — one that would go on to be remembered for millennia.