Investigating Geometry with GeoGebra

Henrico County Public Schools

Pythagorean Theorem 4

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

  1. The Pythagorean Theorem states that for any right triangle, the sum of the squares of the lengths of the legs equals the square of the length of the hypotenuse.

  2. If you take any two squares and connect points A and C, you will have a right triangle ABC.

  3. The figure on the right is the same two squares with the line segment AC drawn from a different vertex on each square.

  4. Now, move the red point and see how this is a visual proof for the Pythagorean Theorem.

  5. Will this work for any two squares? Why?
Sorry, the GeoGebra Applet could not be started. Please make sure that Java 1.4.2 (or later) is installed and activated. (click here to install Java now)