I've known the Pythagorean Theorem for many a day...but I've never once seen proof of it. I think I can somewhat prove it using similar triangles, but that's not quite proving it, I don't think...
And can someone show me proof of the law of sines and the law of cosines??
Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :
The short answer? No.
The long answer? No.
Hope you're happy.
(Fine, fine. I'll give you a hint. Draw a triangle. Then draw boxes extending from the borders--figure their parameters. Then go on from there.)
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
That's why it's called Pythagoren's Theorem. It's unprovable, just like the Theory of Evolution is unprovable.
But it's still correct, and it's still useful. It's just not provable.
Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
Theorems are provable. It's the postulates that aren't. You can prove the Pythagorean theorem. See the Wikipedia article about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_theorem You can also look up the Law of Sines and the Law of Cosines there.
Theories aren't exactly provable in the same way that theorems are. However, once something hits the theory stage (germ theory, theory of gravity, etc.) it usually means that there's a lot of evidence for it.
[ June 22, 2004, 12:23 AM: Message edited by: Shigosei ]
Posted by Anthro (Member # 6087) on :
Actually, the Pythagorean Theorem isn't entirely true. Some kid proved it wrong.
Posted by Mike (Member # 55) on :
This thread scares me. Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
The pythagorean theorem has been proved a few dozen ways.
Also, mph, evolution is both a fact and a theory. The theory regards its mechanisms, many of the particulars about past occurences, and what it will bring in the future, but that it happens in at least some form is not in dispute in the scientific community, it being observed fairly routinely, both directly and indirectly.
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