Pythagoras trivia

Pythagoras Mini Quiz

Test your knowledge with these top questions!

Question 1

Why did Greek mathematician Pythagoras strictly forbid his followers from eating fava beans?

Pythagoras believed in reincarnation, teaching that human souls could migrate into plants. He warned that eating fava beans was essentially an act of cannibalism.

Question 2

Why do modern historians doubt mathematician Pythagoras created his famous namesake theorem?

Babylonian clay tablets from 1800 BCE show lists of Pythagorean triples. This proves ancient Mesopotamians understood the geometric rule over a millennium before his birth.

Question 3

How did ancient mathematician Pythagoras reportedly discover the mathematical ratios of music?

Legend says he heard hammers striking anvils in a forge and noticed the pitches were harmonious. He supposedly realized the varying hammer weights formed simple math ratios.