Is this equivalent to the Pythagorean Theorem?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the confusion regarding a mathematical statement related to the Pythagorean theorem found on a webpage about Pythagoreans. The user questions the reasoning behind the equation AB^2 = AC^2 + CB^2, asserting that their algebraic attempts do not yield the Pythagorean theorem. They clarify that A, B, and C are points, not variables, and that AB^2 should be interpreted as the square of the length between points A and B. The conversation highlights the need for a clearer derivation to understand the relationship presented. Overall, the user seeks clarification on the validity of the theorem's application in this context.
Quine!
Messages
12
Reaction score
0
So I was reading up on the Pythagoreans, and I came across this page: http://www.math.ufl.edu/~rcrew/texts/pythagoras.html .

I don't see the reasoning behind this statement.

"Since AB=AD+DB, adding these equations yields

A(B2)=A(C2)+C(B2)
which is the Pythagorean theorem."


I tried some simple algebra on this statement and couldn't get Pythag to fall out of it. Can someone figure out a derivation for this?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Mathematics news on Phys.org
That's not what the page says. It says,

AB^2 = AC^2 + CB^2

A, B, and C are not variables. AB represents the length between points A and B. You should read AB^2 as a single length being squared.
 
Suppose ,instead of the usual x,y coordinate system with an I basis vector along the x -axis and a corresponding j basis vector along the y-axis we instead have a different pair of basis vectors ,call them e and f along their respective axes. I have seen that this is an important subject in maths My question is what physical applications does such a model apply to? I am asking here because I have devoted quite a lot of time in the past to understanding convectors and the dual...
Insights auto threads is broken atm, so I'm manually creating these for new Insight articles. In Dirac’s Principles of Quantum Mechanics published in 1930 he introduced a “convenient notation” he referred to as a “delta function” which he treated as a continuum analog to the discrete Kronecker delta. The Kronecker delta is simply the indexed components of the identity operator in matrix algebra Source: https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/what-exactly-is-diracs-delta-function/ by...

Similar threads

Back
Top