Investigating Geometry with GeoGebra

Henrico County Public Schools

Pythagorean Problem 1

READ the instruction below and INTERACT with the GeoGebra applet on the right.

  1. Late at night, young Pythagoras tries to climb his 5 m long ladder up to his darling’s window. The window is 4.50 m above the ground.

  2. How high will he get if he places the ladder 3 m off the wall? Drag the ladder point and find a solution. Sketch the solution with all its lengths (s, r, h) on paper.

  3. Now, calculate the solution of task (2) on paper. Which lengths are given, which are sought? Do you get the same solution?

  4. At what distance of the wall should Pythagoras place his ladder in order to reach the window 4.50 m above the ground? Sketch the solution with all its lengths (s, r, h) on paper.

  5. Now, calculate the solution of task (4) on paper. Compare your solution to your sketch?
Sorry, the GeoGebra Applet could not be started. Please install Java 1.4 (or later) to use this page.