Ancient Mathematicians and Their Contributions

Ancient Mathematicians

• The earliest known mathematicians were Africans, who created the first notched tally bones.
• Sumerians developed the earliest documented counting and measuring system, including multiplication tables, geometrical exercises, and division problems.
• Babylonians used clay tablets to deal with fractions, algebra, and equations.
• Egyptians developed the earliest fully-developed base 10 number system in use, with the earliest papyri showing numeration systems and basic arithmetic.
• The Rhind Papyrus was an instruction manual in arithmetic, geometry, unit fractions, and more, and featured the first decimal numeration system with a place value concept.
• Chinese mathematicians created the Lo Shu order three (3 x 3) "magic square" in which each row, column, and diagonal sums to 15.
• The "Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art" is a Chinese guide to solving equations using sophisticated matrix-based methods.
• Indian mathematicians invoked powers of ten from a hundred to a trillion in early Vedic mantras.
• The "Sulba Sutra" lists several Pythagorean triples and a simplified Pythagorean theorem for the sides of a square and a rectangle, and includes a quite accurate approximation to √2.

Greek Mathematicians

• Thales is considered the "first true mathematician" and the father of Greek mathematics, who applied deductive reasoning principles to geometry.
• Thales is known for "Thales' Theorem" and laid down the guidelines for the abstract development of geometry.
• Thales believed that the Earth was disk-shaped and not round, and that it floats on an ocean.
• Pythagoras is famous for Pythagoras' theorem, and expanded geometry with a rigorous approach building from first principles.
• Pythagoras believed that the Earth was round and that the sun, moon, and other planets had their own movements.
• Plato is known for his Platonic solids and Idealism, and stated the Three Classical Problems – circle squaring, angle trisection, and cube duplication.
• Plato was an influential teacher and popularizer of mathematics, and insisted on rigorous proof and logical methods.
• Aristotle developed and standardized logic, and was an influential figure in the development of deductive reasoning.
• Euclid is considered the father of classical geometry, and used axioms and postulates to develop many formulas, proofs, and theorems.
• Euclid wrote the earliest math book, "Elements", which served as a textbook to teach geometry and mathematics.
• Archimedes is considered the greatest mathematician of antiquity, and developed formulas for areas of regular shapes.
• Archimedes developed the "Method of Exhaustion", an early form of integration for approximating areas and the value of π.
• Archimedes compared infinities and developed a method for calculating the value of π.
• Eratosthenes developed the "Sieve of Eratosthenes" method for identifying prime numbers.
• Eratosthenes devised the first system of latitude and longitude.

This quiz covers the contributions of ancient mathematicians, including the Sumerians, Babylonians, Egyptians, and others. Topics include early number systems, counting, measuring, and mathematical exercises.