Definition:Figurate Number/Historical Note
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Historical Note on Figurate Number
Figurate numbers, that is:
and so on, were classified and investigated by the Pythagorean school in the $6$th century BCE. This was possibly the first time this had ever been done.
Sources
- 1986: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers ... (previous) ... (next): $-1$ and $i$
- 1992: George F. Simmons: Calculus Gems ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text {A}.2$: Pythagoras (ca. $\text {580}$ – $\text {500}$ B.C.)
- 1997: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $-1$ and $i$