© T Madas
Experience on using the Pythagoras Theorem tells us that: There are a few integer lengths for a triangle which satisfy the Pythagorean law. We all know the famous “three” numbers 3,4,5 Some of us are aware of 5,12,13 Even fewer of us know the 8,15,17 and the 7,24,25 What about 20,21,29? How many of us know the 12,35,37? or 9,40,41? Does 2000, , also work? Is there an infinite number of Pythagorean Triples? Is there a way to generate such numbers?
We can generate such triples using the identity: a b c a b c
© T Madas a b c 1 a = 9 b = 40 c = 41 4 a = 16 b = 30 c = 34 a = 21 b = 20 c = 29 a = 24 b = 10 c = 26 5 a = 7 b = 24 c = 25 a = 12 b = 16 c = 20 a = 15 b = 8 c = 17 4 a = 5 b = 12 c = 13 a = 8 b = 6 c = 10 3 a = 3 b = 4 c = m n Notes The condition m > n ≥ 1 is placed so that a > 0 It should be obvious that we can extend this table producing an infinite number of Pythagorean triples This “formula” does not produce unique triples for different values of m and n
© T Madas
An unexpected way of generating Pythagorean triples is by adding unit fractions whose denominators are consecutive odd or even integers. The numerator and denominator of the resulting fraction will always give the two shorter sides of a Pythagorean triple. Squaring and adding gives the 3, 4, 5 triple Squaring and adding gives the 8, 15, 17 triple Squaring and adding gives the 12, 35, 37 triple Squaring and adding gives the 16, 63, 65 triple
Squaring and adding gives the 3, 4, 5 triple Squaring and adding gives the 5, 12, 13 triple Squaring and adding gives the 7, 24, 25 triple Squaring and adding gives the 9, 40, 41 triple An unexpected way of generating Pythagorean triples is by adding unit fractions whose denominators are consecutive odd or even integers. The numerator and denominator of the resulting fraction will always give the two shorter sides of a Pythagorean triple.
© T Madas Why does this method generates Pythagorean triples? Squaring and adding these quantities should produce a perfect square, if this method is to work