Thales, an engineer by trade, was the first of the Seven Sages, or wise men of Ancient Greece. Thales is known as the first Greek philosopher, mathematician and scientist. He founded the geometry of lines, so is given credit for introducing abstract geometry.
He was the founder of the Ionian school of philosophy in Miletus, and the teacher of Anaximander. During Thales' time, Miletus was an important Greek metropolis in Asia Minor, known for scholarship. Several schools were founded in Miletus, attracting scientists, philosophers, architects and geographers
Thales is credited with the following five theorems of geometry:
He was the founder of the Ionian school of philosophy in Miletus, and the teacher of Anaximander. During Thales' time, Miletus was an important Greek metropolis in Asia Minor, known for scholarship. Several schools were founded in Miletus, attracting scientists, philosophers, architects and geographers
Thales is credited with the following five theorems of geometry:
- A circle is bisected by its diameter.
- Angles at the base of any isosceles triangle are equal.
- If two straight lines intersect, the opposite angles formed are equal.
- If one triangle has two angles and one side equal to another triangle, the two triangles are equal in all respects.
- Any angle inscribed in a semicircle is a right angle. This is known as Thales' Theorem.