Proof Without Words: Pythagorean Theorem

Proof Without Words: Pythagorean Theorem
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2020-11-04 01:10
This example demonstrates the Pythagorean Theorem by dragging points. You will notice that the sum of the squares of the two legs of a right triangle equals the square of the hypotenuse. This proves the Pythagorean Theorem. It uses GeoGebra commands such as Intersect, Ray, Mirror, Semicircle, CircleArc, etc. Suitable for middle school and above students to learn geometric proofs.

GeoGebra Commands & Parameters

  1. Intersect(xAxis, yAxis) → A
  2. Point(xAxis) → B
  3. Ray(A, B) → a
  4. Point(a) → C
  5. Mirror(C, A) → C'
  6. Semicircle(C, C') → c
  7. Intersect(c, yAxis) → D,
  8. CircleArc(A, D, C) → d
  9. Point(d) → E
  10. Segment(C, E) → b
  11. Segment(E, C') → e
  12. Segment(C', C) → f
  13. Polygon(C', C, 4) → poly1, g, h, i, j, F, G
  14. Polygon(C, E, 4) → poly2, k, l, m, n, H, I
  15. Polygon(E, C', 4) → poly3, p, q, r, s, J, K
  16. Midpoint(E, J) → L
  17. OrthogonalLine(L, i) → t
  18. OrthogonalLine(L, t) → a_1
  19. Intersect(a_1, s) → M
  20. Intersect(t, r) → N
  21. Intersect(a_1, q) → O
  22. Intersect(t, e) → P
  23. Polygon(M, L, N, K) → poly4, m_1, l_1, n_1, k_1
  24. Polygon(L, N, J, O) → poly5, l_2, n_2, j_1, o
  25. Polygon(L, P, C', O) → poly6, l_3, p_1, c', o_1
  26. Polygon(P, L, M, E) → poly7, p_2, l_4, m_2, e_1
  27. Vector(L, C) → u
  28. Vector(L, F) → v
  29. Vector(L, C') → w
  30. Vector(L, G) → u_1
  31. Centroid(poly4) → Q
  32. Centroid(poly5) → R
  33. Centroid(poly6) → S
  34. Centroid(poly7) → T
  35. Translate(T, w) → T'
  36. Translate(S, u) → S'
  37. Translate(R, v) → R'
  38. Translate(Q, u_1) → Q'
  39. Segment(Q, Q') → b_1
  40. Segment(R, R') → c_1
  41. Segment(S, S') → d_1
  42. Segment(T, T') → f_1
  43. Point(b_1) → U
  44. Point(c_1) → V
  45. Point(d_1) → W
  46. Point(f_1) → Z
  47. Vector(Q, U) → v_1
  48. Vector(R, V) → w_1
  49. Vector(S, W) → g_1
  50. Vector(T, Z) → h_1
  51. Translate(L, w_1) → L'
  52. Translate(N, w_1) → N'
  53. Translate(J, w_1) → J'
  54. Translate(O, w_1) → O'
  55. Polygon(L', N', J', O') → poly5', l', n', j', o'
  56. Translate(M, v_1) → M'
  57. Translate(L, v_1) → L'_1
  58. Translate(N, v_1) → N'_1
  59. Translate(K, v_1) → K'
  60. Polygon(M', L'_1, N'_1, K') → poly4', m', l'_1, n'_1, k'
  61. Translate(L, g_1) → L'_2
  62. Translate(P, g_1) → P'
  63. Translate(C', g_1) → C''
  64. Translate(O, g_1) → O'_1
  65. Polygon(L'_2, P', C'', O'_1) → poly6', l'_2, p', c'', o'_1
  66. Translate(P, h_1) → P'_1
  67. Translate(L, h_1) → L'_3
  68. Translate(M, h_1) → M'_1
  69. Translate(E, h_1) → E'
  70. Polygon(P'_1, L'_3, M'_1, E') → poly7', p'_1, l'_3, m'_1, e'
  71. Midpoint(H, C) → A_1
  72. Midpoint(C, G) → B_1
  73. Segment(A_1, B_1) → i_1
  74. Point(i_1) → C_1
  75. Vector(A_1, C_1) → q_1
  76. Translate(poly2, q_1) → poly2'

AI Drawing Prompt Reference

On a coordinate plane, start at the origin and place a point on the x-axis. Draw a ray from the origin through that point, and pick another point on the ray. Using this second point as a center, construct a semicircle with the origin as its opposite endpoint, intersecting the y-axis. From the origin, draw a circular arc through that intersection to the second point, and place a point on the arc. Connect this point to the second point, the second point to the origin's reflection, and the reflection back to the second point, forming a right triangle. On each side of the triangle, construct a square outward, and within each square, create smaller squares and segments to form a dynamic, draggable figure. By moving points, observe that the sum of the areas of the two smaller squares equals the area of the largest square, visually proving the Pythagorean theorem.
The prompt above was compiled from the original drawing commands and is for reference only.