Pythagorean

1 of 2

noun

Py·​thag·​o·​re·​an pə-ˌtha-gə-ˈrē-ən How to pronounce Pythagorean (audio)
(ˌ)pī-
: any of a group professing to be followers of the Greek philosopher Pythagoras

Pythagorean

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or associated with the Greek philosopher Pythagoras, his philosophy, or the Pythagoreans

Examples of Pythagorean in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
For example: Pythagorean triples Many scholars have considered the list an exercise in pure, theoretical mathematics, perhaps even a problem set used for teaching students. Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 3 Dec. 2024 Instead, the pair of students used a trigonometric rule called the Law of Sines, which does not rely on the Pythagorean theorem. Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Oct. 2024 Charles Barkley's $1M donation to St. Mary's arrives after students solve Pythagorean Theorem Sep 4, 2024 Go deeper (<1 min. read) Get a free daily digest of the most important news in your backyard with Axios New Orleans. Chelsea Brasted, Axios, 20 Sep. 2024 Baltimore’s Pythagorean record, a metric that calculates a team’s record based on its run differential, entering Thursday was 51-29, one win better than its actual mark. Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 28 June 2024 These Are the Most Bizarre Numbers in the Universe Manon Bischoff 2 High School Students Prove Pythagorean Theorem. Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 13 June 2024 For example, Pythagorean triples (such as 3, 4 and 5), represent right triangles whose three vertices are all integer distances apart. Quanta Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024 There must be thousands of old and new explanations of the Pythagorean theorem online. Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2024 Over the distinguished, nearly two-decade long Congressional career that followed, Garfield established America’s first federal Department of Education, won cases before the Supreme Court as an attorney, and even authored an original proof of the Pythagorean theorem. Time, 21 July 2023
Adjective
There are many different schools of numerology, such as the Pythagorean system and Chaldean method. Wilder, who uses Chaldean numerology, says most esoteric sciences or spiritual fields – including palm reading or astrology – are based in numerology. Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 3 Dec. 2024 Their Pythagorean record is 47-55 as of this writing, which is two fewer actual wins than the Giants have. Grant Brisbee, The Athletic, 26 July 2024 Although the Pythagorean theorem has been proved with algebra and geometry, mathematicians previously thought that it couldn’t be proved using trigonometry. Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Oct. 2024 Baltimore’s 2023 Pythagorean record based on run differential was seven wins worse than its actual mark — an indicator for a team that perhaps overachieved. Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 26 Feb. 2024 The popular Pythagorean win-loss record, based on run differential, say, is ostensibly a more accurate reflection of a team’s performance. Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 7 Aug. 2023 Check your measurements based on the Pythagorean theorem formula above and cut two angled 2x4 pieces for each front and back of the doghouse. Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2023 Two high school students have proved the Pythagorean theorem in a way that one early 20th-century mathematician thought was impossible: using trigonometry. Leila Sloman, Scientific American, 10 Apr. 2023 This was a very young baseball club, destined to get even better, and had the bounce-back effect typical of teams who far underperform their Pythagorean record set to work in its favor as the 2022 season opened. Tony Blengino, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1531, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1579, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Pythagorean was in 1531

Dictionary Entries Near Pythagorean

Cite this Entry

“Pythagorean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Pythagorean. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

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