Interactive Pythagoras


The diagram above was created using a Japanese website. Notice that the Japanese use a, b, and c in a DIFFERENT ORDER than the order we customarily use in the United States.

Explain why the Japanese formula is also correct.

According to the diagram, what geometry concept is represented by a2, b2, and c2? Explain how you know.

Use your rationale to this question and Geometer’s Sketchpad to explain the Pythagorean Theorem.