DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS

MATHEMATICS
NOVEMBER 2020
TITLE TYPE CLASS DUE DATE

PROOF OF PYTHAGOREAN RESEARCH GRADE 11 DECEMBER

THEOREM AND
PROJECT CSEC 14, 2020
PYTHAGOREAN TRIPLES
GROUP
GROUP
WORK

Here are two attempts to prove the Pythagorean Theorem, look carefully at each attempt.
Which is the best ‘proof’?
Explain your reasoning as fully as possible.

Instruction to students

Attempt 1:
c
a

In groups of 4

Suppose a right triangle has sides of length a, b and c

Draw squares on the three sides. Divide these squares into smaller squares.
a +add
You can see that the number of squares on the two shorter sides b up to make the number of
squares on the longest side.

So: a2+b2=c2

Attempt 2 c
TRAY
a
a+b
Suppose that you start with four right triangles with sides of length a, b and c and a square tray with

sides of length a+b.

You can arrange the triangles into the tray in two different ways as shown here.

In the first way, you leave two square holes. These have a combined area of a2 + b2.

In the second way you leave one large square hole. This has an area of c2.

Since these areas are equal

a2 + b 2 = c2

The presentation must include

Listing of group members and their contribution to the completion of the project stating exactly
what each individual did.

The best proof is attempt number ________

This is because

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

Criticism (s} of the other are

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

b
 PROOF OF PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM RUBIC

POINTS AWARDED

Give correct answer: The best proof is attempt number. 3

Explains that attempt number _______ works for any size of right 3
angled triangle

Explains that attempt number _________ only show that theorem 4

works for 3,4,5 right angled triangle

TOTAL POINTS 10
 Pythagorean Triples
5
3

(3, 4, 5), (5, 12, 13), (7, 24, 25) and (9, 40, 41) are called Pythagorean Triples because they satisfy

the condition c2 = a2 + b2

1. Investigate the relationships between the lengths of the sides of triangles that belong to this set.

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

2. Use these relationships to find the numerical values of at least two further Pythagorean Triples

that belong to this set.

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________
 PROOF OF PYTHAGOREAN TRIPLES RUBIC

POINTS WARDED

1. Looks for patterns in the lengths of sides and 1

relationships.
Makes statements based on evidence such as:
_________ is always odd.
1
_________ is always one more than b.

2. Looks for new values. 2

Decides that the next two values of __________ are 2

__________ and________

TOTAL POINTA 6
 INVESTIGATION

Question