[HN Gopher] I Learned the Pythagorean Theorem
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       I Learned the Pythagorean Theorem
        
       Author : speckx
       Score  : 14 points
       Date   : 2025-11-13 19:07 UTC (10 days ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (danq.me)
 (TXT) w3m dump (danq.me)
        
       | srean wrote:
       | I probably had a weird introduction to Pythagorean triples in my
       | childhood -- through my Meccano kit. 3,4,5 was of course the most
       | common one.
       | 
       | I would be happy to know if others had a similar experience. I
       | date myself though.
       | 
       | This kit was Russian made and had just excellent finish, tiny
       | chrome plated nuts and bolts.I haven't thought about it in a
       | while.
       | 
       | Now I need to look for it at my parent's house.
        
       | hinkley wrote:
       | The day I learned the Pythagorean theorem, I also learned the
       | Triangle inequality. From then on every corner parking lot or
       | diagonal sidewalk through a park became a shortcut to be taken,
       | and enjoyed.
       | 
       | Little wonder that the way I got through the more boring homework
       | assignments in 100 and 200 level CS classes later on was to turn
       | in the most efficient version of the answer instead of the most
       | expedient.
        
         | srean wrote:
         | Cutting corners on floor tiles with knight moves ? One of my
         | habits.
        
       | btilly wrote:
       | I have explained the Pythagorean Theorem to many people. It is
       | part of an explanation that I give that simple does not mean
       | easy. Math is simple in a way that we are not wired for. And so a
       | key to not being frustrated is to realize that there is nothing
       | wrong with us that we sometimes struggle to understand simple
       | things.
       | 
       | As part of it, I show how simple the Pythagorean theorem is to
       | prove. The same proof as
       | https://etc.usf.edu/clipart/43500/43501/pythag3_43501.htm. It can
       | literally be drawn on the napkin.
       | 
       | You start with two squares of size a+b. You cut one into a square
       | of size a, a square of size b, and 4 right-angled triangles
       | a-b-c. You cut the other into 4 right angled triangles and a
       | square of size c. When you eliminate the triangles (that have
       | equal area), we're left with a^2 + b^2 = c^2.
       | 
       | The point being that it can be very hard to come up with such a
       | simple thing. And it can sometimes take a while to truly accept
       | it. Because we messy humans are wired for certain kinds of
       | complex - like recognizing voices - and not for always getting
       | simple right.
        
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       (page generated 2025-11-23 23:00 UTC)