Mathematics

Melvin Hughes

21 January, 14:26

Question 2

b

al

az a

bь?

Which statement best explains

why the sum of the areas of the

two white squares in Figure 2 is

the same as the area of the white

square in Figure 1?

aь

Figure 1

Figure 2

In each triangle, the length of side a plus the length of side b equals the length

of side c. That means that a? + b2 = c.

The combined area of the four triangles is equal to the area of the large white

square.

In each figure the total area is equal and the area of the 4 triangles is equal, so

the remaining white area in each figure must also be equal.