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The Pythagorean Theorem - Educational Outreach

The Pythagorean Theorem - Educational Outreach

The Pythagorean Theorem - Educational Outreach

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Figure 2.6 is the diagram for a second not-so-obviousdissection proof where a rectangle encloses the basic righttriangle as shown. <strong>The</strong> three triangles comprising therectangle are similar (left to reader to show), allowing theunknown dimensions x, y, z to be solved via similarityprinciples in terms of a, b, and c. Once we have x, y, and zin hand, the proof proceeds as a normal dissection.zyacbxFigure 2.6: A Rectangular Dissection Proof1x a ab y: x ,b c c b2z a a z a c c2ab:A c ab c 3:A 124 setab b:ab 2 cb2ab abc2 2b a1 2 2c c2 2a b c2abb c c22222a1cbc ab a1c2222ac ac b 2 c22222b b y ,&c cabc 1 2 ab b 2 c22a1c2222a1c 2233

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