Pythagoras' Theorem

Pythagoras

Over 2000 years ago there was an amazing discovery about triangles: When the triangle has a right angle (90) ... ... and squares are made on each of the three sides, then ...
... the biggest square has the exact same area as the other two squares put together

It is called "Pythagoras' Theorem" and can be written in one short equation:

a2 + b2 = c2

Note:

c is the longest side of the triangle a and b are the other two sides

Definition
The longest side of the triangle is called the "hypotenuse", so the formal definition is: In a right angled triangle: the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides

!ure

"

#et's see if it really wor$s using an e%ample

&%ample: ' "(,),*" triangle has a right angle in it

Let's check if the areas are the same:

32 +

! "2

#alculating this becomes:

$ + %& ! 2"
!t wor"s ... li"e #agic

+hy Is This ,seful"

If we $now the lengths of two sides of a right angled triangle, we can find the length of the third side -.ut remember it only wor$s on right angled triangles/0

1ow Do I ,se it"

+rite it down as an equation:

a2 + b2 ! c2

Now you can use algebra to find any missing 2alue, as in the following e%amples:

&%ample: !ol2e this triangle

a2 + b2 ! c2 "2 + %22 ! c2 2" + % ! c2 %&$ ! c2 c2 ! %&$ c ! '%&$ c = 13
3ou can also read about !quares and !quare 4oots to find out why 5678 9 6(

&%ample: !ol2e this triangle

a2 + b2 ! c2 $2 + b2 ! %"2 (% + b2 ! 22"
)ake (% from both sides:

b2 ! % b ! '% b = 12

&%ample: +hat is the diagonal distance across a square of si:e 6"

a2 + b2 ! c2 %2 + %2 ! c2 % + % ! c2 2 ! c2 c2 ! 2 c = 2 = 1.4142...
It wor$s the other way around, too: when the three sides of a triangle ma$e a; < b; 9 c;, then the triangle is right angled

&%ample: Does this triangle ha2e a 4ight 'ngle"

*oes a2 + b2 ! c2 + a2 + b2 ! %02 + 2 ! 676 c2 ! 2&2 ! 676 )hey are e-ual. so ///
2

! %00 + ",&

0es. it does have a 1ight 2ngle3

&%ample: Does an =, 6*, 67 triangle ha2e a 4ight 'ngle" Does 8; < 15; 9 16; "

=; < 6*; 9 7) < ;;* 9 289, but 67; 9 256

!o, N>, it does not ha2e a 4ight 'ngle

&%ample: Does this triangle ha2e a 4ight 'ngle"

*oes a2 + b2 ! c2 +

*oes 4352 + 4"52 ! 4(52 + *oes 3 + " ! ( + 0es. it does3

6o this is a right7angled triangle

'nd 3ou ?an Pro2e The Theorem 3ourself /

@et paper pen and scissors, then using the following animation as a guide:

Draw a right angled triangle on the paper, lea2ing plenty of space

Draw a square along the hypotenuse -the longest side0

Draw the same si:ed square on the other side of the hypotenuse

Draw lines as shown on the animation, li$e this:

?ut out the shapes 'rrange them so that you can pro2e that the big square has the same area as the two squares on the other sides

'nother, 'ma:ingly !imple, Proof

8ere is one of the oldest 9roofs that the s-uare on the long side has the same area as the other s-uares/ :atch the animation. and 9ay attention when the triangles start sliding around/ 0ou may want to watch the animation a few times to understand what is ha99ening/ )he 9ur9le triangle is the im9ortant one/

+e also ha2e a proof by adding up the areas Historical Note: while we call it Pythagoras' Theorem, it was also known by Indian, Greek, Chinese and Babylonian mathematicians well before he li ed !