1. 2 Mathematicians
Pythagoras and Zeno
Comparison of their
discoveries
And their lives
Chantelle Sullivan
Y8Care

2. Who was Pythagoras?
Pythagoras was born around 570 BC and passed away around 495 BC.
He was a philosopher and mathematician.
He was famous for his Pythagorean Theorem.
He had a teacher named Themistoclea. He taught him principles of ethics.
He traveled to different places to learn, such as Egypt.

3. The Pythagorean Theorem
This theorem, came up by Pythagoras, states that in a right angled triangle, the area of the square on the hypotenuse [side opposite to right angle] is equal to the sum of the areas of the squares of the other 2 side. That is—a2+b2=c2
In other words, if you had a right angle triangle, and you made a square on each of the sides of the triangle, the biggest square will be the other 2 added up together.

4. Example to Prove Check if the areas are same: 32+42=52
Therefore, 9+16=25, which proves Pythagoras’ Theorem correct.

5. Who Was Zeno?
Zeno of Elea was a pre-Socratic [mathematicians/philosophers before Socrates] philosopher known for his Paradoxes.
The 4 arguments about motion in the paradoxes are known as…
1) Dichotomy
2)Achilles
3)Arrow
4)Stadium
He was the first person to show that the concept of infinity is problematical, meaning that infinity is questionable

6. Math Discoveries
The four paradoxes are Achilles, Dichotomy, Arrow and Stadium
Arrow: for motion to occur, an object must change position which it occupies.
Achilles: a head started slow runner will never be caught up by a faster runner who starts running later than the slow runner.
Not many people think Zeno’s paradoxes are correct.

7. Comparison of Pythagoras & Zeno
Pythagoras’ math theories are more useful than Zeno’s after comparing them.
People nowadays mostly disagree with Zeno’s motion paradoxes but still agree with Pythagoras on his Theorem.
Pythagoras has a huger impact on people nowadays on a wider range.
Both of them are Pre-Socratic mathematicians.

8. Bibliography & resources: Pythagoras
Mathsisfun.com.Pythagoras’ Theorem < September 30th, 2011.
Wikipedia. Pythagoras’ Theorem < September 29th, 2011.
Struck, Dirk. A Concise History of Mathematics New York. Dover Publications. September 30th,2011.
Morris, Stephanie. The Pythagorean Theorem < September 30th 2011.
Kidipede. Pythagoras < > October 1st, 2011.

9. Bibliography & resources: Zeno of Elea
Cyprus. Zeno’s Paradoxes < > October 5th, 2011.
Struck, Dirk. A Concise History of Mathematics New York. Dover Publications. September 30th,2011.
WikiPedia. Zeno of Elea October 1st
PRIME. Zeno’s Paradox: Achilles & the Tortoise October 4th, 2011.