• School Mathematics
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.523-533
• /
• 2007

This article focused the meaning of Pythagoras' and Euclid's proof about the Pythagorean theorem in a historical and mathematical perspective. Pythagoras' proof using similarity is based on the arithmetic assumption about commensurability. However, Euclid proved the Pythagorean theorem again only using the concept of dissection-rearrangement that is purely geometric so that it does not need commensurability. Pythagoras' and Euclid's different approaches to geometry have to do with Birkhoff's axiom system and Hilbert's axiom system in the school geometry Birkhoff proposed the new axioms for plane geometry accepting real number that is strictly defined. Thus Birkhoff's metrical approach can be defined as a Pythagorean approach that developed geometry based on number. On the other hand, Hilbert succeeded Euclid who had pursued pure geometry that did not depend on number. The difference between the proof using similarity and dissection-rearrangement is related to the unsolved problem in the geometry curriculum that is conflict of Euclid's conventional synthetical approach and modern mathematical approach to geometry.