Getting it Right! An Investigation of the Pythagorean Theorem

In order to learn about the Pythagorean Theorem, young mathematicians investigate relations and patterns between different sides of a right triangle to look for possible relations among the squared sides. Once they have established the relationship, they generate visual proofs, investigate the Web for additional information about Pythagoras, and use geometry software to explore other implications of the theorem. Finally, they put the theorem to use by measuring the distance between two opposite ends of their school, both on paper and directly.