Leonardo of Pisa (Fibonacci) · Mathematics

The Book of Squares: Fibonacci the Number Theorist

Fibonacci&rsquo;s masterpiece, the <em>Liber Quadratorum</em> (Book of Squares, 1225), on congruent numbers and sums of squares; the mathematical contest before Emperor Frederick II that provoked it; and the case that Fibonacci was a genuine, original number theorist - not merely the rabbit man - centuries ahead of his time.

What you'll be able to recall

You learned that Fibonacci&rsquo;s Liber Quadratorum (1225) tackled congruent numbers and sums of squares, that it grew out of a mathematical contest at Frederick II&rsquo;s court (the challenge to find a square staying square when 5 is added or subtracted, solved by 41/12), and that Fibonacci stated the identity - al…

Leads to Brahmagupta.

Begin this lesson →
← All lessons on Leonardo of Pisa (Fibonacci)

epoché — a humanities education that remembers you.