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The Pythagorean Theorem - Educational Outreach

The Pythagorean Theorem - Educational Outreach

The Pythagorean Theorem - Educational Outreach

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We end Section 2.7 by presenting Barry’s proof instep-by-step fashion so that the reader will get a sense ofwhat formal geometric logic streams look like, as they arefound in modern geometry textbooks at the high school orcollege level.1: Construct right triangle AEC with sides a, b, c.2:Construct circle Cb centered at C with radius b.3: Construct triangle4:BED right BED with hypotenuse 2b.By inscribed triangle theorem sincethe hypotenuse for BED equals andexactly overlays the diameter for Cb5:AEB CED <strong>The</strong> same common angle BEC issubtracted from the right angles AEC and BED6:CED CDE <strong>The</strong> triangle CED7:AEB CDE Transitivity of equality8:AEB AED <strong>The</strong> angle DAEtriangles and AEB CDE is isosceles. is common to both. Hencethe third angle is equal and similarityis assured by AAA.With the critical geometric similarity firmly established bytraditional logic, Barry finishes his proof with an algebraiccoup-de-grace that is typical of the modern approach!9AE AB a c b: AD AE c b a2a ( c b)(c b)a2 c2 b2 a2 b2 c2Equality of similar ratios60

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