Why a² + b² = c²

~15 min · 8th grade

A rescue team needs to reach a stranded hiker. There is a direct diagonal path through a flooded field — but how long is it?

Discover the Pythagorean theorem by visualizing squares on each side of a right triangle.

Real world: GPS, construction, navigation, and computer graphics all rely on the Pythagorean theorem hundreds of times per second.

BUILD IT

Drag the legs of the right triangle. Count the squares in each colored square (one on each side). What do you notice?

For a triangle with legs 3 and 4: how many squares are on the longest side (hypotenuse)?