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The Pythagorean Theorem is one
of the most known and remembered theorems of geometry. Its
consistent popularity can be seen by its timeless references in
movies and television. |
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As in introduction to the study of
the Pythagorean Theorem, start your lesson with a 3 to 4 minute
video clip which includes a reference to this famous theorem.
Such video clips serve as attention grabbers and illustrate to
students that mathematics is alive and well in the world around
them.
The following are possible locations
of Pythagorean Theorem references:
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In the 1958
movie Merry Andrew, actor Danny Kaye sings a song about "The Square
of the Hypotenuse".
"The square of the hypotenuse of a
right triangle
Is equal to the sum of the squares of two adjacent sides.
You'd not tolerate lettin' your participle dangle,
So please effect the self-same respect for your geometric
slides."
. . .
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In the 1939 film The
Wizard of Oz, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion
travel to meet a wizard, seeking respectively a brain, a heart and
courage. After receiving his brain from the wizard, the
Scarecrow recites the Pythagorean Theorem incorrectly. He
stated, "The sum of the square roots of any two sides of an
isosceles triangle is equal to the square root of the remaining
side." Oops!
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In the television program
NUMB3RS, mathematical references abound. In the episode titled Obsession
(Season 2), mathematics professor (and pseudo detective), Charlie, makes reference to the
Pythagorean Theorem in relation to basketball. NUMB3RS'
CDs are available for seasons one and two. In addition,
Texas Instruments, in collaboration with CBS, publishes
worksheets for mathematics teachers relating to each episode.
The worksheets are available at:
http://www.cbs.com/primetime/numb3rs/ti/activities.shtml.
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In the Gilbert
and Sullivan 1879 opera Pirates of Penzance, a reference is
made to the Pythagorean Theorem in the song "I Am the Very Model of
a Modern Major General".
. . .
I'm very well acquainted, too, with matters mathematical,
I understand equations, both the simple and quadratical,
About binomial theorem I'm teeming with a lot o' news,
With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse.
. . .
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