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

1 answer

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!