posted
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??
Posts: 2756 | Registered: Jul 2002
| IP: Logged |
(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.)
Posts: 3060 | Registered: Nov 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
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.
posted
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.
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
