Proof of Pythagoras's Theorem

Consider the right triangle ABC.

                    

On the short side AB add a right-angled triangle ABD similar to ACB.

                    

 

As is similar to , . Rearranging this equation gives:

 

Angle DBC = 90º. Thus triangle DBC is similar to and . Rearranging this equation gives .

 

Recall that the area of a triangle equals one half the base times the height.

So area() + area() = area(), gives

Replacing AD and BD with their values in the equations above we obtain:

Dividing both sides by then leads to

Pythagoras Theorem

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