Board index › Topical Discussion › Computers, Math, Science, and Technology

Pythagorean theorem question

Page 1 of 1 [ 4 posts ] 

Previous topic | Next topic

mgurak
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker

User avatar

Joined: 24 May 2024
Age: 56
Gender: Male
Posts: 57
Location: Virginia, United States

25 May 2024, 1:47 am

I read some time ago that two teenagers may have proved the Pythagorean theorem using trigonometry. This may sound like a joke question but it's not. If their proof is valid, would they rename it? What would it be now, Pythagoras' Law?


_________________
I wanna rock and roll until bedtime with the music kept to a decent level and party for an hour or so unless I'm with my trusted friends.


Bestiola
Velociraptor
Velociraptor

Joined: 22 Aug 2021
Gender: Female
Posts: 464

25 May 2024, 3:03 am

mgurak wrote:
I read some time ago that two teenagers may have proved the Pythagorean theorem using trigonometry. This may sound like a joke question but it's not. If their proof is valid, would they rename it? What would it be now, Pythagoras' Law?


Hmmm since they didn't invent it, just used trigonometry to prove it, I don't see why should they rename it. Jason Zimba did it in 2009, yet the law wasn't named after him.
https://forumgeom.fau.edu/FG2009volume9/FG200925.pdf

They haven't published their proof yet (just some ppt presentation can be found), it still needs to be validated.

Btw, the Sumerians used that theorem long before Pythagoras, so it's not his law either.
https://www.livescience.com/earliest-fo ... an-triplet
https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/the-b ... e-was-born


_________________
Bestiola is a nit, and her trousers do not fit.


Mona Pereth
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 11 Sep 2018
Gender: Female
Posts: 8,522
Location: New York City (Queens)

25 May 2024, 9:42 am

Proving the Pythagorean theorem using trignonometry??? I thought trigonometry, itself, was largely based on the Pythagorean theorem, hence could not be used to prove it?

Looking at the PDF file, it appears that the person just uses some trigonometric functions, without most of the rest of trigonometry, as part of a proof. I haven't yet looked at the proof in detail, but I guess that can work, although it seems to me like an unnecessary step.


_________________
- Autistic in NYC - Resources and new ideas for the autistic adult community in the New York City metro area.
- Autistic peer-led groups (via text-based chat, currently) led or facilitated by members of the Autistic Peer Leadership Group.


Last edited by Mona Pereth on 25 May 2024, 11:41 am, edited 1 time in total.

utterly absurd
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 7 Feb 2024
Age: 19
Gender: Non-binary
Posts: 1,952
Location: Wisconsin

25 May 2024, 11:18 am

This proof wouldn't change its status because there are thousands of valid proofs already out there. "Theorem" means it's been proven. I have a geometric proof hanging on my wall that's centuries older than Pythagoras.


_________________
Diagnosed ASD, ADHD, Tourettes age 5
They/them
Feel free to PM me--I like to talk about most things other than sports