The Pythagorean Theorem

Every geometry student knows a²+b²=c², but where did this famous theorem come from? And what, if anything, does it have to do with Pythagoras?

A few good places to start:

– Martínez, Alberto A. The Cult of Pythagoras: Math and Myths. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2012.

– Berlinghoff, William P., and Fernando Q. Gouvêa. “A Cheerful Fact: The Pythagorean Theorem.” In Math Through the Ages: A Gentle History for Teachers and Others, 141-48. Farmington, ME: Oxton House/Mathematical Association of America, 2015.