How to Construct Pythagorean Theorems for Children
The Pythagorean Theorem is a mathematical rule pertaining to right triangles. Right triangles are those with a 90 degree angle inside. Right triangles consist of one long slanted slide, called the hypotenuse, and two shorter sides. The Pythagorean Theorem provides an easy way to solve for the length of the hypotenuse or a side as long as two pieces of information are known (either the hypotenuse and a side, or both sides).
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Draw a right triangle on the white board. Label the hypotenuse "c", one side "a" and the other side "b." Write out the Pythagorean Theorem: a^2 + b^2 = c^2, where the "^2" represents squaring the variable.
-
2
Draw a second right triangle using a different color marker. Label one side with "2" and the other with "5", leaving "c" on the hypotenuse. Ask the children what the equation would be. Show the answer: 2^2 + 5^2 = c^2. Ask the children to solve the equation. Show the work by first solving the left side: 4 + 25 = 29 = c^2. Write out the answer as the square root of 29.
-
-
3
Draw a third right triangle using a different color marker. Label the hypotenuse "6" and the sides with "a" and "3". Ask the students what the equation will be. Show the answer: a^2 + 3^2 = 6 ^ 2, which can be worked out as a^2 + 9 = 36. Ask the students to solve the equation, and give them time to do so on their papers. Write out the answer on the board, showing your work. Subtract 9 from both sides to get: a^2= 27. Write out the answer as the square root of 27.
-
1
