- #1
Simon Peach
- 79
- 17
https://www.theguardian.com/science...blet-unlocked-after-nearly-a-century-of-study
<Moderator's note: link corrected, Article intro added>
Last edited by a moderator:
At least 1,000 years before the Greek mathematician Pythagoras looked at a right angled triangle and worked out that the square of the longest side is always equal to the sum of the squares of the other two, an unknown Babylonian genius took a clay tablet and a reed pen and marked out not just the same theorem, but a series of trigonometry tables which scientists claim are more accurate than any available today.
The 3,700-year-old broken clay tablet survives in the collections of Columbia University, and scientists now believe they have cracked its secrets.
The team from the University of New South Wales in Sydney believe that the four columns and 15 rows of cuneiform – wedge shaped indentations made in the wet clay – represent the world’s oldest and most accurate working trigonometric table, a working tool which could have been used in surveying, and in calculating how to construct temples, palaces and pyramids.
I have modified the link so that it directly points to the article.symbolipoint said:You really think any or most members want to answer a question on an external site about if he/she/they want to follow a link to an article on that site?
Your link was pointing back to Facebook instead of the actual Guardian article.Simon Peach said:symbolipoint; it wasn't a question but an article that may (may) refute Pythagoras as the discoverer of the theorem named after him, and by 1500 years!
Simon Peach said:symbolipoint; it wasn't a question but an article that may (may) refute Pythagoras as the discoverer of the theorem named after him, and by 1500 years!
ThanksDrClaude said:I have modified the link so that it directly points to the article.Your link was pointing back to Facebook instead of the actual Guardian article.
We have billions of digits today. I'm quite sure the table didn't have that accuracy.a series of trigonometry tables which scientists claim are more accurate than any available today.
That doesn't make any sense.with potential modern application because the base 60 used in calculations by the Babylonians permitted many more accurate fractions than the contemporary base 10.
The ancient tablet is significant because it provides valuable insight into the culture, language, and history of the civilization that created it. It can also provide evidence for historical events or societal norms of the time.
The information found on the ancient tablet can vary depending on its purpose and origin. It can contain religious, legal, or literary texts, as well as records of historical events, genealogy, or scientific knowledge.
The process of deciphering an ancient tablet involves analyzing the symbols or writing system used, comparing it to known languages or scripts, and making educated guesses based on context and patterns. It also requires knowledge of the culture and history of the civilization that created the tablet.
The ancient tablet can provide valuable information about the daily life, beliefs, and customs of the civilization that created it. It can also reveal insights into their language, education, technology, and interactions with other cultures.
The ancient tablet is a primary source of information for historians, allowing them to piece together a more complete and accurate picture of the past. It can provide evidence for events, practices, and perspectives that may have been lost or distorted over time.