Pythagorean Triples Beat the Computer Drill Becky Afghani

Pythagorean Triples Beat the Computer Drill Becky Afghani, LBUSD Math Curriculum Office, 2004

What are Pythagorean Triples? • Three integers that make the equation a 2 + b 2 = c 2 true are called Pythagorean Triples. • The numbers 3, 4 and 5 are a very famous Pythagorean Triple. a 2 + b 2 = c 2 32 + 4 2 = 5 2 9 + 16 = 25 Becky Afghani, LBUSD Math Curriculum Office, 2004

Why Memorize Pythagorean Triples? • Remember how much time it took to figure out 8 x 8 before you memorized it? (8 + 8 + 8 = 64) • Think of all the work involved to solve this problem: Wouldn’t it be nice to just know this is 5? a 2 + b 2 = c 2 32 + 4 2 = x 2 9 + 16 = x 2 25 = x 2 5=x Becky Afghani, LBUSD Math Curriculum Office, 2004

Good Pythagorean Triples to Memorize: And multiples of each, like: 3 x 2, 4 x 2, 5 x 2 6 Becky Afghani, LBUSD Math Curriculum Office, 2004 8 10

Directions: • The following slides show common Pythagorean Triples. It is faster to recognize these triples on sight than to apply the Pythagorean Theorem. • When the right triangle appears, SAY ALOUD the length of the missing side. Try to beat the computer by saying the answer BEFORE it appears in 8 seconds. Becky Afghani, LBUSD Math Curriculum Office, 2004