Mathematical secrets of ancient tablet unlocked after nearly a century of study (2017)
17 days ago
- #Ancient Mathematics
- #Trigonometry
- #Babylonian Civilization
- A 3,700-year-old Babylonian clay tablet contains the world's oldest and most accurate trigonometric table.
- The tablet, known as Plimpton 322, predates Pythagoras by over 1,000 years and demonstrates advanced mathematical knowledge.
- Babylonian trigonometry used ratios instead of angles and circles, offering a simpler and more accurate system.
- The tablet was likely used for practical applications like surveying and constructing buildings, temples, and pyramids.
- Researchers believe the tablet originally had six columns and 38 rows, serving as a powerful working tool.
- The discovery highlights the sophistication of Babylonian mathematics, which could have modern applications in fields like computer graphics and education.
- Plimpton 322 was excavated in southern Iraq in the early 20th century and later donated to Columbia University.