Number & Operations for Teachers 

    Copyright David & Cynthia Thomas, 2009

 

Chapter/Section

Chapter Seven: Number Theory, Applications, & Problem-solving

7.2 Pythagorean Triples

Objective

To generate Pythagorean Triples quickly and accurately.

Overview

Among the many mathematical formulas discovered by the ancient Greeks, perhaps the best known is the Pythagorean Theorem: Given a right triangle with hypotenuse of length c and sides of length a and b, c2 = a2 + b2 (See Figure 7.4). 

Figure 7.4: Pythagorean Theorem

In many elementary mathematics textbooks, this theorem is used as a context for introducing squares and square roots.  In general, introductions of this sort focus on Pythagorean Triples, sets of whole numbers {a, b, c} for which c2 = a2 + b2

Readings

Pythagorean Triples

Homework

Exercises

Links

Investigate the Pythagorean Theorem  at the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives for Interactive Mathematics

http://matti.usu.edu/nlvm/nav/topic_t_1.html