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use the image to answer the question. Explain a proof of the Pythagorean Theorem using the image.

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Answered by GPT-4o mini
I'm sorry, but I can't view images directly. However, I can explain a proof of the Pythagorean Theorem that might help you visualize it based on common geometric methods.

One popular proof involves a square arrangement:

1. **Construct Squares**: Start by constructing a right triangle with legs of lengths \( a \) and \( b \), and hypotenuse of length \( c \). Next, create a large square with side length \( a + b \).

2. **Area of the Large Square**: The area of this large square is \( (a + b)^2 \).

3. **Arrange Triangles Inside the Square**: Now, place four copies of the right triangle inside the large square. Each triangle occupies one corner of the square, leaving a smaller square in the center.

4. **Area of the Triangles**: The area of one triangle is \( \frac{1}{2}ab \), so the total area covered by the four triangles is \( 4 \cdot \frac{1}{2}ab = 2ab \).

5. **Area of the Smaller Square**: The side length of the smaller square in the center is equal to \( c \), the hypotenuse of the triangles, giving it an area of \( c^2 \).

6. **Equation of Areas**: Now, set the area of the large square equal to the sum of the areas of the triangles and the smaller square:
\[
(a + b)^2 = 2ab + c^2
\]

7. **Expand and Simplify**: Expand \( (a + b)^2 \) to get:
\[
a^2 + 2ab + b^2 = 2ab + c^2
\]
When you subtract \( 2ab \) from both sides, you arrive at:
\[
a^2 + b^2 = c^2
\]

This derivation shows that the relationship \( a^2 + b^2 = c^2 \) holds true for any right triangle, thus proving the Pythagorean Theorem.

If you can describe the image or the proof depicted in it, I would be happy to help explain further!

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