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history of math was rewritten today: trigonometry invented 1500 years earlier than thought
Posted on 8/24/17 at 11:45 pm
Posted on 8/24/17 at 11:45 pm
3,700-year-old Babylonian tablet rewrites the history of maths - and shows the Greeks did not develop trigonometry
quote:
A 3,700-year-old clay tablet has proven that the Babylonians developed trigonometry 1,500 years before the Greeks and were using a sophisticated method of mathematics which could change how we calculate today.
The tablet, known as Plimpton 332, was discovered in the early 1900s in Southern Iraq by the American archaeologist and diplomat Edgar Banks, who was the inspiration for Indiana Jones.
The true meaning of the tablet has eluded experts until now but new research by the University of New South Wales, Australia, has shown it is the world’s oldest and most accurate trigonometric table, which was probably used by ancient architects to construct temples, palaces and canals.
However unlike today’s trigonometry, Babylonian mathematics used a base 60, or sexagesimal system, rather than the 10 which is used today. Because 60 is far easier to divide by three, experts studying the tablet, found that the calculations are far more accurate.
quote:
“Our research reveals that Plimpton 322 describes the shapes of right-angle triangles using a novel kind of trigonometry based on ratios, not angles and circles,” said Dr Daniel Mansfield of the School of Mathematics and Statistics in the UNSW Faculty of Science.
“It is a fascinating mathematical work that demonstrates undoubted genius. The tablet not only contains the world’s oldest trigonometric table; it is also the only completely accurate trigonometric table, because of the very different Babylonian approach to arithmetic and geometry.
“This means it has great relevance for our modern world. Babylonian mathematics may have been out of fashion for more than 3000 years, but it has possible practical applications in surveying, computer graphics and education.
Posted on 8/24/17 at 11:47 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
quote:
trigonometry invented 1500 years earlier than thought, by black people in mississippi
Posted on 8/24/17 at 11:49 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
Well, then I officially apologize to the Greeks for cursing them since high school, and now offer a hearty "frick you, motherfrickers" to the Babylonians.
Posted on 8/24/17 at 11:49 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
Let me guess.. They say it was invented by this guy..
Posted on 8/24/17 at 11:49 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
Wow. Crazy about the knowledge floating around back then. Also crazy how we can translate those ancient languages off of a stone tablet.
Posted on 8/24/17 at 11:51 pm to Kafka
quote:You know they're gonna claim it.
trigonometry invented 1500 years earlier than thought, by black people in mississippi
Posted on 8/24/17 at 11:53 pm to RummelTiger
1500 years earlier huh? High school me feels even dumber..
Posted on 8/24/17 at 11:56 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
quote:
The tablet, known as Plimpton 332, was discovered in the early 1900s in Southern Iraq
I think it's fascinating that Western Civilization actually started in the Middle East. They started "modern" civilization, but since the Roman Empire have been living further in the past than a lot of the rest of the world. I have my theories on why that is, but I'll save that for a different day.
Posted on 8/25/17 at 12:04 am to HailHailtoMichigan!
I mean, it took them from the 90s to figure out wtf it was?
Posted on 8/25/17 at 12:07 am to Mingo Was His NameO
quote:
I have my theories on why that is, but I'll save that for a different day.
There's no time like the present. Let's hear it baw
Posted on 8/25/17 at 12:09 am to beerJeep
quote:
There's no time like the present. Let's hear it baw
Posted on 8/25/17 at 12:09 am to HailHailtoMichigan!
Let's see how long it will take this thread to make it about black people.
Posted on 8/25/17 at 12:12 am to beerJeep
quote:
There's no time like the present. Let's hear it baw
The Babylonians, Mesopotamians, Persians, ect where all from around that area and where advanced peoples. Then around the time of the end of the Roman Empire and the birth of a certain "prophet" the civilizations in the Middle East became more and more savage.
This post was edited on 8/25/17 at 12:26 am
Posted on 8/25/17 at 12:15 am to AlonsoWDC
Didn't genghis khan and his merry band of horsemen totally destroy the trajectory of Babylon about 1000 years ago when it was at the forefront of science, art, math, astronomy?
Posted on 8/25/17 at 12:16 am to AlonsoWDC
quote:
Let's see how long it will take this thread to make it about black people.
Too late
Posted on 8/25/17 at 12:21 am to Mingo Was His NameO
Awe come on man. Cut the ambiguousness out. Spew it. Let's hear dis theory
Posted on 8/25/17 at 12:30 am to HailHailtoMichigan!
Pythagoras was a f9t
Posted on 8/25/17 at 12:31 am to Big L
quote:
Didn't genghis khan and his merry band of horsemen totally destroy the trajectory of Babylon about 1000 years ago when it was at the forefront of science, art, math, astronomy?
no
it kind of just faded away as it was caught between Greek, Persian, Roman, Parthian, and Muslim wars.
LINK
This post was edited on 8/25/17 at 12:34 am
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