Pythagoras

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//**Pythagoras of Samos** //

====You may recognize his name from one of the most important math theories, the Pythagorean Theorem, or you may recognize the name from a fractal image with the same name, but Pythagoras did more than contribute to mathematics; he shaped his own society. By the time you reach the end of this passage, you will know about Pythagoras’s early life, his influence on mathematics, and his influence on culture and society. ==== ====Pythagoras’s life wasn’t great from the start. In fact, he was born on a tiny island among the millions in the Aegean Sea, called Samos. (O'Connor.) His mother, Pythais, was a native of the island while Pythagoras’s father, Mnesarchus, was a merchant who hailed from the city of Tyre. Because of his father’s career, Pythagoras got to travel with him a lot and was rumored to visit Italy on one of his trips. Like most boys of his age, Pythagoras learned to play the lyre, write poetry, and even recite the works of Homer. ====

====For our time now, Pythagoras's discoveries in mathematics would seem basic, but in his time, they were nearly unheard of. Some of his important discoveries were the difference between even and odd numbers and, of course, the Pythagorean Theorem, or a2+b2=c2. The Pythagorean Theorem is now being used throughout the world to determine whether or not a triangle is a right triangle, and is even taught in school. (Bruno.) The brilliant ====

====mathemetician came up with the principle that all things that exist are based on numbers, (Bruno) and the type of fractal image known as the Pythagoras Tree, seen to the right. ====

====Along with a tremendous impact on mathematics, Pythagoras of Samos also influenced society and culture in his days. He founded a school of thought that was vegetarian, and from this school came his theory of transmigration, or that the soul travels to another place after death. ("Pythagoras.") In music, Pythagoras discovered that the sound of a string on an instrument sounded different depending on its length. This was included in his idea of harmonics, and has shaped how string instruments are assembled even today. ("Pythagoras") ====

====Pythagoras died in 500 B.C. in Lucania, in present-day Italy at the age of 82. Yet this amazing mathemetician and philosopher will not be forgotten because of his life, impact on mathematics, and his impact on culture and society. ====

media type="youtube" key="meQfI8Yh6k4" height="315" width="420" align="center" Works Cited Web Site:  O'Connor, J.J. "Pythagoras Biography." // Pythagoras of Samos //. University of St. Andrews, n.d. Web. 26 Mar 2012. . Book:  Bruno, Leonard. Math and Mathematics. Detroit: UXL. 1999.   Encyclopedia:   "Pythagoras" World Book. 2008 ed. 2008.