Question

Prove the Pythagorean Theorem using similar triangles. The Pythagorean Theorem states that in a right triangle, the sum of the squares of the lengths of the legs of the triangle equals the squared length of the hypotenuse. Be sure to create and name the appropriate geometric figures. @hartnn

Answer 1

http://www.cut-the-knot.org/pythagoras/

Answer 2

about how many different proofs of Pythagoras have been devised?

Answer 3

Huh?

Answer 4

I dont know myself but i think its a heck of a lot!

Answer 5

Can you help me with this?

Answer 6

@SolomonZelman

Answer 7

there 103 proofs on the above link. Sorry I dont know one using similar triangles.

Answer 8

Its in the above link - check out Proof 7.

Answer 9

@phi

Answer 10

First, did you look at the link posted up above?
Can you find Proof # 6

Answer 11

I will look at it again but I didn't understand it

Answer 12

I don't really understand the link or the Pythagorean theorem in general.

Answer 13

The theorem is *interesting*

It might not seem like much, but the more you learn math, the more it shows up as an extremely useful idea.

Here is the idea:
Draw a right triangle with "legs" of length a and b
knowing those two lengths, you can find the length of the hypotenuse (call this length "c") using the formula
a^2 + b^2 = c^2

you may say "so what"
but
1) it is not obvious if it's true. (It is, of course)
2) it shows up in lots of places in math

Answer 14

Oh okay so that's the general sense of it.

Answer 15

yes. Now let's show it must be true.

1) Draw a right triangle and label its vertexes