Definition:Irrational Number/Historical Note
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Historical Note on Irrational Number
It was the ancient Greeks who discovered that the irrational numbers were indispensable in geometry.
They were famously discovered by the Pythagoreans.
Some sources suggest that this discovery is one of their more important contributions towards civilisation.
Sources
- 1937: Eric Temple Bell: Men of Mathematics ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text{II}$: Modern Minds in Ancient Bodies
- 1939: E.G. Phillips: A Course of Analysis (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text {I}$: Number: $1.1$ Introduction
- 1992: George F. Simmons: Calculus Gems ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text {B}.17$: More About Irrational Numbers. $\pi$ is Irrational