• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.155-165
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• 2020

Pythagorean theorem is a proposition on the relationship between the lengths of three sides of a right triangle. It is well known that Pythagorean theorem for Euclidean geometry deforms into an interesting form in non-Euclidean geometry. In this paper, we investigate a new perspective that replaces right triangles with 'proper triangles' so that Pythagorean theorem extends to non-Euclidean geometries without any modification. This is seen from the perspective that a rectangle is an equiangular quadrilateral, and a right triangle is a half of a rectangle. Surprisingly, a proper triangle (defined by Paolo Maraner), which is a half of an equiangular quadrilateral, satisfies Pythagorean theorem in many geometries, including hyperbolic geometry and spherical geometry.

• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.459-481
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• 2015

In this study, we investigated whether the theorem is established even if we replace a 'square' element in the Euclidean proof of the Pythagorean theorem with different figures. At this time, we used different figures as equilateral, isosceles triangle, (mutant) a right triangle, a rectangle, a parallelogram, and any similar figures. Pythagorean theorem implies a relationship between the three sides of a right triangle. However, the procedure of Euclidean proof is discussed in relation between the areas of the square, which each edge is the length of each side of a right triangle. In this study, according to the attached figures, we found that the Pythagorean theorem appears in the following three cases, that is, the relationship between the sides, the relationship between the areas, and one case that do not appear in the previous two cases directly. In addition, we recognized the efficiency of Euclidean proof attached the square. This proving activity requires a mathematical process, and a generalization of this process is a good material that can experience the diversity and rigor at the same time.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.221-232
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• 2017

In this paper, we discuss how ancient Egyptians find out the area of the circle based on $\ll$Ahmose Papyrus$\gg$. Vogel and Engels studied the quadrature of the circle, one of the basic concepts of ancient Egyptian mathematics. We look closely at the interpretation based on the approximate right triangle of Robins and Shute. As circumstantial evidence for Robbins and Shute's hypothesis, Egyptians prior to the 12th dynasty considered the perception of a right triangle as examples of 'simultaneous equation', 'unit of length', 'unit of slope', 'Egyptian triple', and 'right triangles transfer to Greece'. Finally, we present a method to utilize the squaring the circle by ancient Egyptians interpreted by Robbins and Shute as the dynamic symmetry of Hambidge.