How did Pythagoras figure out that if you square the legs of a right triangle and add them together you get the length of the hypotenuse squared? (in other words, how did he figure out the Pythagorean theorem?
2007-11-06 01:31:08 · 9 answers · asked by A A 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
I don't know, but he must have been REALLY bored.
2007-11-06 01:34:07 · answer #1 · answered by kinda_crazyish 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The proof that has come down to us from classical times is Euclid's proof of the Pythagorean theorem. To the best of my knowledge, no one really knows if Pythagoras used the same argument, or even if he even had a formal proof. (For that matter, Pythagoras was the leader of "the Pythagorean school", and for all we know it could have been one of his disciples who actually came up with the theorem.)
2007-11-06 02:38:22 · answer #2 · answered by Michael M 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Pythagoras (c.580 B.C.-c.500 B.C.) discovered the theorem while waiting to see Polycrates, the tyrannical ruler of the city of Samos. He looked at the floor tiles while cooling his heels waiting for the tyrant.
2007-11-06 01:45:13 · answer #3 · answered by iam2inthis 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The proof is in any basic geometry book. I can't show it here, because it is based on the equality of certain geometric figures (triangles, squares and rectangles) that are constructed on the sides of a right triangle, and I can't draw them here.
By the way, there are literally hundreds of alternative proofs of the same theorem.
2007-11-06 01:37:50 · answer #4 · answered by Joe L 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
HI!!!!!!people in some countries knew this property before Pythagoras,but Pythagoras was the first to systematize it and present its proof to the world.That is why this property is known as the "THEOREM OF PYTHAGORAS".It is due to this world famous theorem that his name has become immortal.
2007-11-06 01:53:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
One day, he got nothing to do, so he drew three squares, of which the dimensions matches the three sides of the triangle.
Then he started measuring the area of squares. To his surprise, he noticed the area of the largest squares matches the sum of the two smaller squares.
2007-11-06 01:52:06 · answer #6 · answered by an 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Equating areas
2007-11-06 02:51:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
hmm.. you know that's also my question when i encountered it when i was in 2nd yr high school and now im in 4th yr hs, I still dont know the right answer... ^_^
2007-11-06 01:51:47 · answer #8 · answered by Astrea Ley Melegrito 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
measuring & comparing, probably
2007-11-06 01:37:51 · answer #9 · answered by Walter W. Krijthe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋