Pythagorean theorem Definition and 46 Threads

Hello. We know that ##a^2+b^2=c^2## and we want to minimize ##a+b##. $$b= \sqrt {c^2-a^2}$$ $$ \dfrac {d}{da} (a+\sqrt {c^2-a^2})=0$$ $$ 1-\dfrac {a}{ \sqrt {c^2-a^2}}=0 $$ This gives $$a=\dfrac {c}{\sqrt 2}$$ But it doesn't work for c=5. I know a=3 and b=4 minimize a+b.

Hello everyone, I'm reading Morins book which I like, and I feel I kind of understand the part on time dilation, however I'm a little confused by the geometry of the Pythagorian theorem when applied to velocities. On the moving clock he shows the velocity of light on the diagonal it traces...

Hi all! In this assignment I have to formulate an equation for the shortest distance from a point on a circle perimeter to an arbitrary axis in a circle with angle theta. I included an image with the sketch. Anyone that can help?

I understand that momentum, rest mass and energy can be put on the sides of a right triangle such that the Pythagorean Theorem suggests E^2=p^2+m^2. I understand that the Dirac equation says E=aypy+axpx+azpz+Bm and that when we square both sides the momentum and mass terms square while the cross...

Hello, today i was playing around with the pythagorean theorem and found out something that i can't really explaing or atleast explain it with probably a false answer. So i was putting every possible combination with the max digit of 10. For example 1^2+1^2=\sqrt{2}, 1^2+2^2=\sqrt{5}...

Determine if the triangle with the given vertices is a right triangle. (7, -1), (-3, 5), (-12, -10) I must find the lengths of the sides using the distance formula for points on the xy-plane. The question then tells me to use the converse of the Pythagorean theorem. How do I use this...

Homework Statement Homework Equations Formula for Area of a retangle : A = L x W Pythagorean theorem: A2 + b2 = c2 The Attempt at a Solution So I am pretty sure I did it correct but I just want to be 100% certain I will get this right, By the way its a picture cause I found it easier to...

What are some cool things that people can do with the Pythagorean Theorem?

Let $ABC$ be a right angled triangle, where the right angle is at $A$. Construct squares on $AC$, $AB$ and $BC$ as shown. Let $P$ be the point of intersection of $BK$ and $FC$ (Note that $P$ is not marked in the figure). Then I conjecture that $AP$ is parallel to $BD$.What I tried:By obsercing...

I'm just wondering: How accurate is the pythagaroen theorem? To what exact decimal point is the calculated length of the hypotenus in a triangle 100% corect when using pythagarean theorem? It must not be 100% accurate to an infinite descimal point since it's called a "Theorem"

Homework Statement [/B] Keep in mind this is a Top Gun-themed homework assignment. Cougar comes in for a shaky landing. His 20422 kg airplane traveling at 85 m/s strikes the deck at 3.5 degrees below the horizontal. Cougar's plane snags the landing cable stretched across the deck. The landing...

Anyone want to take a crack at it? My class has been discussing it: Find the length of AB:http://t4.rbxcdn.com/84e25f3830d66e6bbaeaba48e35c0781

Hello, so I have a question that states (these aren't the actual measurements but they are around about the same, I can't remember the exact numbers so I made these up, this way I could apply the same to the actual numbers) an object being 4km above me, 1.4km to the north of me, and 2km to the...

Hello! I have a homework for tomorrow. The question is: What are the consequences of the Pythagorean theorem?? On Wikipedia, they mixed the consequences and the uses of the theorem in one paragraph: 5.1 Pythagorean triples 5.2 Incommensurable lengths 5.3 Complex numbers 5.4...

I was developing a pythagorean theorem proof based on the cross product of two vectors..Below is my final solution...My problem is I had to get around using the distance/magnitude formula because that is using the pythagorean theorem to prove the pythagorean theorem. But after searching, it may...

Ever since I was in grade school I have been fascinated with the idea that the Pythagorean theorem, or any other universally respected theorem, could be wrong. When I was younger I found a little proof I made to disprove it, and I came across it in an old notebook of mine. Now after taking...

I am wondering what it means to "prove" the Pythagorean Theorem in modern mathematics. Most real analysis begins with the following definition of the n-dimensional Euclidean metric: ##d(x,y) = |y-x| = \sqrt{\sum\limits_{i=0}^{n} (y_i-x_i)^2}## This would seem to directly imply the...

Homework Statement Show that the relation between the horizontal and vertical components of the ball's position is given by the equation: y = L - [(L^2 - x^2)^1/2] http://www.flickr.com/photos/94066958@N08/8553595522/in/photostream/ Homework Equations y = L - [(L^2 - x^2)^1/2]...

Ok I realize the Pythagorean Theorem is correct. I completely get that very basic concept this is just a question I have. On a right triangle a^2 + b^2 = c^2 with c being the hypotenuse. But if instead of the hypotenuse connecting the two legs you had a jagged line that went halfway up...

Hello, I know that ,their is more than 97 proofs for Pythagorean theorem . but I think that I found new one ! which is very beautiful , also , this proof show us the relation between 2 branches of maths , and how can we look to one object by diffrent ways , also this proof shows us that we...

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. I tried some simple algebra on this statement and couldn't get Pythag to fall out of it. Can someone figure out a...

Homework Statement Find line FC in the given problem. Homework Equations A^2 + b^2 = c^2 The Attempt at a Solution according to the diagram, 1/2ac = bc - since the the two right triangles share the same hypotenuse. bc = 12 so 1/2ac = 12, i got the answer as 16^2 + b^2 =...

Picture of the problem: As seen by the diagram above, a2 < a1 But the spherical Pythagorean theorem states that cos c = (cos a)(cos b). The triangle can either have a1,b,c or a2,b,c as its sides, which means the above equation contradicts itself. Am I missing something? thanks.

Why in deriving invariant distance in space time we use Pythagorean Theorem with a negative sign?

hello, in the Wikipedia page for http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimensional_analysis#Proof_of_the_Pythagorean_theorem" how do we know that area = "largest edge2 • f (angle1, angle2)"? Isn't it just as reasonable to say something like area= (largest edge/40000)2 • f (angle1, angle2) ?

Homework Statement A 0.21 kg rock is projected from the edge of the top of a building with an initial velocity of 7.82 m/s at an angle 56 above the horizontal. Due to gravity, the rock strikes the ground at a horizontal distance of 10.5 m from the base of the building. How tall is the...

Has anyone heard of the speed of light being derived from the Pythagorean Theorem? Obviously I'm referring to using the time dilation effect of motion. Frank

I just learned the proof for the Pythagorean theorem.. my mind was blown! =D Simply amazing.

Homework Statement Vector A= 5.00 m (See the attached image for the graphical representation) Vector B=17.0m Vector C=15.0 m Homework Equations Pythagorean Theorem, Basic trigonometry The Attempt at a Solution Finding the magnitude of the resultant vector is not...

The Pythagorean theorem relates the length of a vector to its projection onto an orthonormal basis for Euclidean space. Does it also work in the same way for parallograms, and higher dimensional linear solids such as paralleopipeds? I take an n dimensional linear solid and project it onto an...

Alright, we have triangle abc with hypotenuse c. So, if you add vector a and vector b, the answer is vector c. Now, according to the pythagorean theorem, this would not make sense. But the pythagorean theorem is DISTANCE. I am guessing that this phenomenon has something to do with using...

I was pondering square numbers today, and I noticed something interesting: every natural number contains information to construct a Pythagorean triple. Let me show what I mean for an odd natural number, also using the binomial theorem for square quadratic equations (equations of the form...

Today I was thinking about the root mean square, and I figured out a definite relationship with the Pythagorean theorem. Specifically, the root mean square of the legs of a right triangle is equal to the "average leg," i.e. the leg of a square with the hypotenuse as it's diagonal. It appears to...

If two photons are traveling at right angles to each other with velocity vectors of c then what is the velocity vector of the hypotenuse of the right triangle and does this velocity triangle form an equilateral triangle with three angles of 90 degrees if c^2 + c^2 = c^2

A man walks 5 blocks east, then turns 10 blocks north, then walks 5 more block east. Total displacement____? is it... 10^2 + 10^2 = c^2 (Square root 200)=c^2 14.14 = c^2 is this right?

Pythagorean Theorem proof Vector Calc. Due tomorrow 9am. PLEASE HELP! Prove the Pythagorean theorem. That is, if a,b, and c are vectors in Rn such that a + b = c and a.b = 0, then ||a||2 + ||b||2 = ||c||2. Why is this called the Pythagorean theorem. Hint given: Given the hypotheses, you have a...

Does the theorem still hold true, but triangle sides are curves?

I have a question about those three forces. Let's say for example that f1x=0 and f1y=5 then f1=5 right? Or do I have to use the pathagorean therem to find f1 then it would be the square root of 5?

Homework Statement Calculate the maximum speed of the 100 g pendulum mass when it has a length of 100 cm and an amplitude of 50cm. sorry my computer won't access the other thread. i don't know any other laws of conservations of energy or trig very well. also, when the pendulum as an amplitude...

I have used the pythagorean theorem quite frequently yet have never have it proved for me. I tried to do so myself but as i suck at maths i was unsuccessful. Any links proving it would be apppreciated.

I can't seem to understand this problem. Could someone give me a hint as to what I'm supposed to be thinking? Vectors A, B and C satisfy the vecotr equation A + B = C, and their magnitudes are related by the scalar equation A^2 + B^2 = C^2. How is vector A oriented with respect to vector B...

Hey everyone, I understand a2+b2=c2, but I have trouble figuring out which side is which in problems like these: http://img417.imageshack.us/img417/8238/py8gu.png Can someone explain? Thanks, Lou

The summit of a mountain, 2450 m above base camp, is measured on a map to be 4580 m horizonttally from the camp in a direction 32.4 degrees west of north. What are the components of the displacement vector from camp to summit? What is its magnitude? Choose the x-axis east, y-axis north and z...

Has anybody else tried this? a^3 + b^3 + c^3 = d^3 3^3 + 4^3 + 5^3 = 6^3 27 + 64 + 125 = 216 This seems to be a logical extension of the Pythagorean Theorem and it works if the values of 3, 4 and 5 are used for a, b and c. Has this already been discovered in mathematics or is this...

perfect square? hello everyone! i have come across an on-going research onDETERMINING A PERFECT SQUARE GIVEN A DIFFERENCE . However, I have a feeling that this was not an original one. the researcher used the Pythagorean theorem to arrive at his so called "theorem". would anyone give...

This thread is intended just for fun. My favorite proof of the pythagorean theorem uses algebra, together with a very simple picture. A square is inscribed in another square, and then we use the fact that the whole area is equal to the sum of its parts. The resulting figure consists of an...