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64 = 65? Still Not Convinced? But this can not be true what is the ...

64 = 65? Still Not Convinced? But this can not be true what is the ...

64 = 65? Still Not Convinced? But this can not be true what is the ...

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Answer:<br />

Ok, <strong>the</strong> 8x8 figure <strong>is</strong> correct. The right figure (<strong>the</strong> red one) <strong>is</strong> built on three consecutive<br />

Fibonacci num<strong>be</strong>rs, but <strong>the</strong>y <strong>can</strong> figure <strong>what</strong> <strong>is</strong> wrong with it by using <strong>the</strong> Pythagorean<br />

Theorem.<br />

First, if <strong>the</strong>y cut and rearrange <strong>th<strong>is</strong></strong> small figure <strong>the</strong>y will <strong>not</strong> d<strong>is</strong>cover that anything <strong>is</strong><br />

wrong as one area unit <strong>is</strong> so small. So that <strong>is</strong> a red herring.<br />

Now to <strong>the</strong> solution,<br />

Calculate how long <strong>the</strong> diagonal should <strong>be</strong> in <strong>the</strong> right figure (<strong>the</strong> red one):<br />

2 2<br />

Diagonal: 13 + 5 = 13.92839<br />

Next calculate <strong>the</strong> length of <strong>the</strong> sides of <strong>the</strong> two figures on <strong>the</strong> bottom (<strong>the</strong> triangle and<br />

<strong>the</strong> top of <strong>the</strong> trapezoid).<br />

2 2<br />

Triangle: 8 + 3 = 8.544004<br />

Trapezoid:<br />

2 2<br />

5 + 2 = 5.3851<strong>65</strong><br />

Sum: 13.92917<br />

So <strong>the</strong> sum of <strong>the</strong> length of <strong>the</strong> two figures <strong>is</strong> slightly longer than <strong>the</strong> diagonal.<br />

Conclusion: When rearranging <strong>the</strong>re <strong>is</strong> <strong>not</strong> a straight line corner to corner, <strong>the</strong> line <strong>is</strong><br />

bowing slightly inward which creates that extra square <strong>be</strong>tween <strong>the</strong> figures along <strong>the</strong><br />

diagonal.

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