First, lets find out who Pythagoras was, where he came from, what he did for a living, etc.
On your sheet of paper, answer the following questions. The answers can be found by looking through the internet or by clicking here: Pythagoras.
1. Where was Pythagoras born? Did he live there all his life?
2. What three pursuits did Pythagoras dedicate his life to?
3. In what year was Pythagoras born? How old was he when he died?
4. What college did he attend?
5. According to Pythagoras, how could the world be understood?
6. What does his most famous contribution state?
7. In what other science did the make a contribution? What did he state?
8. What were the members of Pythagoras' Philosophical and Religious School expected to do?
9. Pythagoras had several rules for his members, but one rule in particular was quite interesting. What was it and why?
Now, lets explore The Pythagorean Theorem. You may answer the following questions by searching the internet or by clicking here: Pythagorean Theorem.
10. What exactly does the Pythagorean Theorem state? What is the formula that represents this?
11. What does the a^2, the b^2, and the c^2 represent? (Hint: Square)
12. If you haven't done so already, click on "Pythagorean Theorem" just above. Do the puzzle that's available there and explain what a^2 + b^2 = c^2 actually means in regards to the squares.
13. Click on "Pythagorean Theorem" again and go to "solve real problems" or click here: Problems. Do "throwing the runner out" and "breaking and entering" only. This will help you see how the theorem is applied to real world situations. You can check your answers.
Finally, if you feel that you understand the Pythagorean Theorem and you think you can solve problems on your own, then do the following:
14. Go to Textbook Problems and work on the problems given there. You may check your answers there to see if you've worked them out correctly.
To conclude this exploration of the Pythagorean Theorem, please answer a few more questions to make sure you grasped some important concepts.
15. Can the Pythagorean Theorem be applied to any triangle?
16. Was Pythagoras the first to discover the concept of a^2 + b^2 = c^2?
17. The theorem can only be used with triangles, true or false. Explain your answer.
**Congratulations!!! You have just explored the life and discoveries of Pythagoras. Now you can tell all your friends who Pythagoras is and what he did.
Several Proofs of the Pythagorean Theorem