The Pell Equation in the Pythagoreans, Theaetetus, and Hindu Mathematics
摘要
The reinterpretation of Plato’s philosophy in terms of periodic anthyphairesis, in fact of palindromically periodic anthyphairesis in the Politicus, and the reading of Book X of Euclid’s Elements under the new light, reveal deep mathematical contributions by Theaetetus, including a proof of the general Pell equation. Fascinating similarities of Theaeteus’ reconstructed proofs with the Hindus’ solution of the problem of Pell are noted.