Beyond Pythagoras - Mathematical Investigation

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Beyond Pythagoras - Mathematical Investigation

1) Do both 5, 12, 13 and 7, 24, 25 satisfy a similar condition of :

(Smallest number)² + (Middle Number)² = (Largest Number) ² ?

5, 12, 13

Smallest number 5² = 5 x 5 = 25

Middle Number 12² = 12 x 12 = 144+

169

Largest Number 13² = 13 x 13 = 169

7, 24, 25

Smallest number 7² = 7 x 7 = 49

Middle Number 24² = 24 x 24 = 576+

625

Largest Number 25² = 25 x 25 = 625

Yes, each set of numbers does satisfy the condition.

They are both Pythagorean triples.

Area = 12 x 5

2

Area = 6 x 5

Area = 30

Perimeter = 5

12

13+

30

13

[IMAGE]2) a)

5

12

[IMAGE]

Area = 24 x 7

2

Area = 12 x 7

Area = 84

Perimeter = 7

24

25+

56

7

24

Area = 40 x 9

2

Area = 20 x 9

Area = 180

Perimeter = 9

40

41+

90

[IMAGE]

41

40

9

b)

3)

From my data I can construct a table to make the identification of

patterns easier.

[IMAGE]

So far I have observed the following patterns:

· The smallest side length advances by two each time.

· All the middle numbers are even

· The middle length is always a multiple of four.

· The longest length is always one unit more than the middle length.

· Both the shortest and longest side lengths are always odd.

· Both the area and perimeter are always even numbers.

I can immediately see the formula to derive the shortest side length

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