The incredible theorem of Pythagoras, November 98


You already know that, in any right triangle, the sum of the squares of the lengths of the legs (a and b) equals the square of the length of the hypothenuse (c), in short: a2 + b2 = c2.
Look at the diagram shown in fig. a) below, it visually demonstrates that 32 + 42 = 52, according to the Pythagorean theorem. Now, can you prove that the Pythagorean also works with triangles (fig. b) or hexagons (fig. c)? The graphical proofs should be simple, in order to understand them at a glance.

pythagorean theorem
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