Plimpton 322

ancient tablet

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July 23, 2026

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The Plimpton 322 is an ancient Babylonian clay tablet, dating to around 1700 BCE. It is significant because it displays number triples that satisfy the Pythagorean theorem, x² + y² = z². For example, it lists the triple 2,291, 2,700, and 3,541, demonstrating that 2,291² + 2,700² = 3,541². This indicates a sophisticated understanding of number theory in ancient Babylon, predating similar discoveries by the Greeks by over a thousand years. The tablet's exact purpose is still debated among scholars, but it clearly showcases advanced mathematical knowledge.12

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number theory
From prehistory through Classical Greece
A Babylonian tablet known as Plimpton 322 (c. 1700 bce) is a case in point. In modern notation, it displays number triples x, y, and z with the property that x² + y² = z². One such triple is 2,291, 2,700, and 3,541, where 2,291² + 2,700² = 3,541². This…
Read More
A Babylonian tablet known as Plimpton 322 (c. 1700 bce) is a case in point. In modern notation, it displays number triples x, y, and z with the property that x² + y² = z². One such triple is 2,291, 2,700, and 3,541, where 2,291² + 2,700² = 3,541². This…
Read More