Created by
Mary F. Marles
Judson High School
Judson Independent School District

adapted for the UK curriculum by
Jane Finch (Teacher Adviser for ICT)
Worcestershire County Council

(Site last checked on 8th July 2004)

Introduction:
 

So many things we use in maths don't seem relevant in our "real" lives. Do you ever wonder why it will be faster to travel "as the crow flies" instead of walking the original paths?  About how tall a ladder should be so that the fireman can save the child from the burning building? All these questions can be solved by using the Pythagorean Theorem. It's really as simple as a....  b..... c....

Questions

    Question 1...

    Who is Pythagoras?        

Pythagoras did lots of amazing things, but where did this man come from?
What was his big contribution to mathematics?
And what is this theorem used for?

    Question 2...
    What is the Pythagorean Theorem?

Explain what the relationship is between the sides of a right triangle.

 Question 3...
    How can someone prove this theorem?
            (Below are multiple choices to show how to prove this theorem.  Choose one to explain.)

CHOICE 1
CHOICE 2
CHOICE 3
 

 
    Question 4...
How can this be used in "real life?"

See problems that use the Pythagorean Theorem, both from a text and using the samples
        in context.
When you are done studying their ideas, write one of your own.