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The Pythagorean Theorem - Educational Outreach

The Pythagorean Theorem - Educational Outreach

The Pythagorean Theorem - Educational Outreach

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Our proof in Chapter 1 has been by visual inspection andconsideration of various arrangements of eight triangularplaying pieces. I can imagine our mathematically mindedancestors doing much the same thing some three to fourthousand years ago when this theorem was first discoveredand utilized in a mostly pre-algebraic world.To conclude this chapter, we need to address oneloose end. Suppose we have a non-right triangle. Does the<strong>Pythagorean</strong> <strong>The</strong>orem still hold? <strong>The</strong> answer is aresounding no, but we will hold off proving what is knownas the converse of the <strong>Pythagorean</strong> <strong>The</strong>orem,A2 B2 C2 , until Chapter 2. However, wewill close Chapter 1 by visually exploring two extreme cases2 2 2where non-right angles definitely imply that A B C .Pivot Point to Perfection BelowFigure 1.11: Extreme Differences Versus<strong>Pythagorean</strong> Perfection25

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