Final answer:
The Pythagorean Theorem was used by the Babylonians and Egyptians long before the Greek philosopher Pythagoras. Tablets and papyri such as Plimpton 322 and Rhind Mathematical Papyrus demonstrate their advanced understanding of mathematics which likely influenced Pythagoras.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Pythagorean Theorem, which is a fundamental principle in geometry, was used by civilizations long before the time of the Greek philosopher Pythagoras. Evidence from ancient Babylonian and Egyptian mathematics suggest that both Babylonians and Egyptians were familiar with the theorem before Pythagoras's time. A notable Babylonian clay tablet known as Plimpton 322, dating to around 1800 BCE, reveals not only an understanding of the relationship between the sides of a right triangle but also knowledge of trigonometric functions. In Egypt, the Rhind Mathematical Papyrus and the Berlin Papyrus 6619 serve as further testament to the advanced mathematical knowledge of the Egyptians, which existed around 1550 BCE and possibly earlier.
Pythagoras, who lived much later (around 570-490 BCE), is thought to have studied with the priests of Heliopolis. Though some postulate that Pythagoras might have rediscovered the theorem independently, it's more widely accepted that the knowledge he acquired may have been influenced by the earlier mathematical concepts from Egyptian sources, which the Greeks may have had access to during their interactions with Egypt.