Pythagorean Theorem
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The Pythagorean Theorem was developed by the Greek mathematician Pythagoras. Is is a mathematical relationship between the lengths of the sides of a right triangle which can be illustrated as follows:
<math>\to a^2+b^2=c^2</math>
Many different proofs of the Pythagorean theorem have been devised. Euclid's proof is one of the most complicated and least intuitive.
One "proof," below, appeared in an ancient manuscript with no explanation other than the word "look!" Can you see just by looking that the square on the hypotenuse and the two squares on the other sides must take up equal amounts of area?
