We can use the Pythagorean theorem (a^2+b^2=c^2)(a
2
+b
2
=c
2
)left parenthesis, a, squared, plus, b, squared, equals, c, squared, right parenthesis to determine possible areas of the two smaller squares.
\text{Area of a square} =\text{side}^2Area of a square=side
2
start text, A, r, e, a, space, o, f, space, a, space, s, q, u, a, r, e, end text, equals, start text, s, i, d, e, end text, squared
So, we can substitute the areas of the squares that share side lengths with the triangle for a^2, b^2a
2
,b
2
a, squared, comma, b, squared and c^2c
2
c, squared in the Pythagorean theorem.
Hint #22 / 6
For example, in the diagram above, the area of the square that shares a side with the hypotenuse is 363636 square units. So, c^2=36c
2
=36c, squared, equals, 36.
Hint #33 / 6
Let's fill in the possible values to see if they make the equation true.
\begin{aligned} a^2 + b^2 &= c^2 \\\\ a^2 + b^2 &= 36 \\\\ 6 + 30 &\stackrel{\large?}{=}36 \\\\ 36 &\stackrel{\checkmark}{=}36\\\\ \end{aligned}
a
2
+b
2
a
2
+b
2
6+30
36
=c
2
=36
=
?
36
=
✓
36
The sum of the areas of the squares connected to the two shorter triangle sides is equal to the area of the square connected to the longest side.
So, 666 and 303030 could be the areas of the smaller squares.
Hint #44 / 6
\begin{aligned} a^2 + b^2 &= c^2 \\\\ a^2 + b^2 &= 36 \\\\ 8 + 28 &\stackrel{\large?}{=}36 \\\\ 36 &\stackrel{\checkmark}{=}36\\\\ \end{aligned}
a
2
+b
2
a
2
+b
2
8+28
36
=c
2
=36
=
?
36
=
✓
36
The sum of the areas of the squares connected to the two shorter triangle sides is equal to the area of the square connected to the longest side.
So, 888 and 282828 could be the areas of the smaller squares.
Hint #55 / 6
\begin{aligned} a^2 + b^2 &= c^2 \\\\ a^2 + b^2 &= 36 \\\\ 4 + 16 &\stackrel{\large?}{=}36 \\\\ 20 &\\eq 36\\\\ \end{aligned}
a
2
+b
2
a
2
+b
2
4+16
20
=c
2
=36
=
?
36
=36
The sum of the areas of the squares connected to the two shorter triangle sides is not equal to the area of the square connected to the longest side.
So, 444 and 161616 could not be the areas of the smaller squares.
Hint #66 / 6
The area of the smaller squares could be:
666 and 303030
888 and 2828