1. Basic Proof of the Pythagorean Theorem:
A=c2
A=a2 a c b
A=b2

2. Use shapes to show: a2 ab a2 ab ab b2 b2 ab

3. Squaring a Binomial a2 b2 ab a b

4. Squaring a Binomial b a
(b–a) a b b2 a
(b–a)

5. Squaring a Binomial ab b2 ab a2
(b–a)2

6. Bhaskara’s Hindu Dissection Proof of the Pythagorean Theorem
Can you re-arrange into a square with side c?

7. BEHOLD! The shortest known proof!

8. Bhaskara’s Hindu Dissection Proof of the Pythagorean Theorem
(b–a) ?
BEHOLD! c b a

9. Garfield’s Geometry or c a b
Can you re-arrange these shapes into a trapezoid with bases a and b? c c

10. Garfield’s Geometry b a c

11. Homework
Pythagorean Dissection Proof
Pythagorean Word Problems

12. Name:
Use the following diagram to show proof of the Pythagorean theorem.
                            c a b