Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

3,700-year-old Babylonian tablet rewrites the history of maths - and shows the Greeks [tr]
UK Telegraph ^ | August 24, 2017 | Sarah Knapton

Posted on 08/25/2017 3:41:48 AM PDT by C19fan

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.

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: ancientmath; babylonian; base60; cuneiform; edgarbanks; epigraphyandlanguage; godsgravesglyphs; math; plimpton332; trigonometry
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-52 next last
To: jalisco555

I hear ya! I try to get something serious in and all they’re interested in is ankles.


21 posted on 08/25/2017 5:48:30 AM PDT by LibWhacker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: trebb
a sine from the past

;o)

22 posted on 08/25/2017 5:55:59 AM PDT by super7man (Madam Defarge, knitting, knitting, always knitting)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: C19fan
which could change how we calculate today.

Ah, so now I get why my check book never balances. Actually, I gave up trying years ago.

23 posted on 08/25/2017 5:59:12 AM PDT by super7man (Madam Defarge, knitting, knitting, always knitting)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker

I’ve always thought base 8 would have been better but then that would have meant that humans did not have thumbs, which would mean that we would still be swinging in trees and would have no use for base anything. Hmmmm....


24 posted on 08/25/2017 6:02:03 AM PDT by super7man (Madam Defarge, knitting, knitting, always knitting)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: The Truth Will Make You Free

We have too many here going off on tangents.


25 posted on 08/25/2017 6:08:01 AM PDT by bgill (CDC site, "We don't know how people are infected with Ebola.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: misanthrope

Hillary clinton.... secant seem to ever win an election.


26 posted on 08/25/2017 6:12:56 AM PDT by BRL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: super7man

all your base are belong to us.


27 posted on 08/25/2017 6:14:50 AM PDT by damper99
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: super7man

Base 10 is feminist. Base 11 would be the more natural masculan base to work off of


28 posted on 08/25/2017 6:15:12 AM PDT by BRL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: misanthrope
I refuse to cosine a loan.....

Don't go off on a tangent...

29 posted on 08/25/2017 6:29:55 AM PDT by Prov1322 (Enjoy my wife's incredible artwork at www.watercolorARTwork.com! (This space no longer for rent))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: C19fan

Why did the Babylonians create this tablet? What was their angle?


30 posted on 08/25/2017 6:37:26 AM PDT by GreenHornet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Teacher317

What am I missing here.....It just doesnt add up to me....


31 posted on 08/25/2017 6:50:14 AM PDT by M-cubed
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Teacher317

A beach love triangle consists of two tangents and acute angel.


32 posted on 08/25/2017 6:52:15 AM PDT by bunkerhill7 ((("The Second Amendment has no limits on firepower"-NY State Senator Kathleen A. Marchione."))))))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: dljordan; C19fan
dljordan: "I thought we stole math from the Africans."

Yes, Pythagoras did, and also from native Americans:


33 posted on 08/25/2017 7:05:30 AM PDT by BroJoeK (a little historical perspective...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: C19fan

Oh no... math jokes.


34 posted on 08/25/2017 7:08:42 AM PDT by bar sin·is·ter (Climate Scientology - another example of science fiction morphing into a religious cult)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dljordan; C19fan
Not to mention, from women:


35 posted on 08/25/2017 7:08:56 AM PDT by BroJoeK (a little historical perspective...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: bunkerhill7
"A beach love triangle consists of two tangents and acute angel."

Oh! But what is, pray tell, the angle of their dangle proportional to?

36 posted on 08/25/2017 7:16:53 AM PDT by BroJoeK (a little historical perspective...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Does so

The Greeks never developed a word for taxes!


37 posted on 08/25/2017 7:28:15 AM PDT by Dr. Ursus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Teacher317

38 posted on 08/25/2017 7:31:16 AM PDT by PLMerite ("Government should be done to cattle and not human beings." - John Milius)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: C19fan

Isn’t it evil to have symbols and monuments from the past? Why were these tablets preserved? /s


39 posted on 08/25/2017 7:49:37 AM PDT by native texan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Teacher317

Is it a loan for an ark? You want us to arcosine?


40 posted on 08/25/2017 7:50:16 AM PDT by AndyTheBear
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-52 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson