The Legacy of Pythagoras

Pythagoras et al (1x2)

Air date: Jul 08, 2008

In part 2, "Pythagoras et al", the viewer learns a bit more of the history of the Pythagorean Theorem, including the idea that its development was not due solely to Pythagoras. We get a taste of the personality cult surrounding Pythagoras and how the devotion of his disciples led to mathematical innovations that today we take for granted, including the existence of irrational numbers that Pythagoras' followers tried to suppress. "Pythagoras et al" also explores how more recent mathematicians expanded on the work of this great thinker.