Pythagorean Theorem

by Bobby Stecher mark.stecher@maconstate.edu

The Pythagorean Theorem as some students see it. a

2 2 2 a +b =c

A better way

2 c

2 a

c
2 2 2 a +b =c

b2 b

Pythagorean Triples

(3,4,5) (5,12,13) (7,24,25) (8,15,17) (9,40,41) (11,60,61) (12,35,37) (13,84,85) (16,63,65)

Pythagorean Triples

Pythagorean Triples

http://www.cut-the-knot.org/Curriculum/Algebra/PythTripleCalculator.shtml

The distance formula.

(x1,y1) c = distance b = y2-y1 a = x2-x1 (x2,y2)

The Pythagorean Theorem is often easier for students to learn than the distance formula.

Proof of the Pythagorean Theorem from Euclid

Euclids Proposition I.47 from Euclids Elements.

Proof of the Pythagorean Theorem

Line segment CN is perpendicular to AB and segment CM is an altitude of ABC.

Proof of the Pythagorean Theorem

Triangle AHB has base AH and height AC. Area of the triangle AHB is half of the area of the square with the sides AH and AC.

Proof of the Pythagorean Theorem

Triangle ACG has base AG and height AM. Area of the triangle ACG is half of the area of the rectangle AMNG.

Proof of the Pythagorean Theorem

Recall AG is equal that to ACG AB because is half of both are sides AMNG rectangle of the same and square. AHB is equal to half of square ACKH. AC is equal to AH because both Thus square ACKH is square. equal are sides of the same to rectangle AMNG. Angle <CAG is equal to <HAB. Both angles are formed by adding the angle <CAB to a right angle.

ACG is equal AHB by SAS.

Proof of the Pythagorean Theorem

Triangle MBE has base BE and height BC Triangle MBE is equal to half the area of square BCDE.

Proof of the Pythagorean Theorem

Triangle CBF has base BF and height BM. Triangle CBF is equal to half the area of rectangle BMNF.

Proof of the Pythagorean Theorem

BE is square equal to BC because Thus BCDE is equalboth are sides of the same square. to rectangle BMNF. BA is equal to BF because both are sides of the same square. Angle <EBA is equal to <CBF. Both angles are formed by adding the angle <ABC to a right angle. ABE is equal FBC by SAS.

World Wide Web java applet for Euclids proof.

http://www.ies.co.jp/math/java/geo/pythafv/y hafv.html

Additional Proofs of the Pythagorean Theorem.

Proof by former president James Garfield. http://jwilson.coe.uga.edu/emt669/Student.Folders/Huberty.Gr eg/Pythagorean.html More than 70 more proofs. http://www.cut-the-knot.org/pythagoras/

A simple hands on proof for students.

Step 1: Cut four identical right triangles from a piece of paper.
c

a
b

A simple hands on proof for students.

Step 2: Arrange the triangles with the hypotenuse of each forming a square.
a c b c c a c b a

Area of large square = (a + b)2 Area of each part 4 Triangles = 4 x (ab/2) 1 Red Square = c2 (a + b)2 = 2ab +c2 a2 + 2ab + b2 = 2ab +c2 a 2 + b2 = c 2

Alternate arrangement
Area of large square = c2
c b c ab ab c a ab ab

Area of each part 4 Triangles = 4 x (ab/2) 1 Purple Square = (a b)2 (a b)2 + 2ab +c2
c

a2 2ab + b2 + 2ab = c2
a 2 + b2 = c 2

The converse of the Pythagorean Theorem can be used to categorize triangles.

If a2 + b2 = c2, then triangle ABC is a right triangle. If a2 + b2 < c2, then triangle ABC is an obtuse triangle. If a2 + b2 > c2, then triangle ABC is an acute triangle.

Cartesian equation of a circle.

x2 + y2 = r2 is the equation of a circle with the center at origin.

Pythagorean Fractal Tree

Students can create a fractal using similar right triangles and squares.

Using right triangles to calculate and construct square roots.

Was Pythagoras a square?

The sum of the areas of the two semi circles on each leg equal to the area of the semi circle on the hypotenuse. The sum of the areas of the equilateral triangles on the legs are equal to the area of the equilateral triangle on the hypotenuse.

Extensions and Ideas for lessons

Does the theorem work for all similar polygons? Is there a trapezoidal version of the Pythagorean Theorem? Using puzzles to prove the Pythagorean Theorem. Make Pythagorean trees. Cut out triangles and glue to poster board to demonstrate a proof of Pythagorean Theorem. Create a list of Pythagorean triples and apply proofs to specific triples. Use Pythagorean Theorem with the special right triangles. Categorize triangles with converse theorem.

References
Boyer, Carl B. and Merzbach, Uta C. A History of Mathematics 2nd ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1968. Burger, Edward B. and Starbird, Michael. Coincidences, Chaos, and All That Math Jazz. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2005. Gullberg, Jan. Mathematics: From the Birth of Numbers. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1997. Livio, Mario. The Golden Ratio. New York: Broadway Books, 2002.

http://www.contracosta.edu/math/pythagoras.htm
http://www.cut-the-knot.org/ http://www.contracosta.edu/math/pythagoras.htm

Links
http://www.contracosta.edu/math/pythagoras.htm http://www.cut-the-knot.org/ http://www.contracosta.edu/math/pythagoras.htm

http://www.ies.co.jp/math/java/geo/pythafv/yhafv.html
http://jwilson.coe.uga.edu/emt669/Student.Folders/Hu berty.Greg/Pythagorean.html http://www.cut-the-knot.org/pythagoras/