Question

Relating a Polynomial Identity to Pythagorean Triples

In this activity you'll relate polynomial identities with Pythagorean triples. Answer the following questions
based on this triangle with side lengths x^2 – 1, 2x, and x^2 + 1.

Answer 1

Explanation:

Hello, please consider the following.

For x > 1, we can apply Pythagoras theorem as below.

`\text{Let's estimate this sum of two squares.} \\\\(2x)^2+(x^2-1)^2=4x^2+x^4-2x^2+1=x^4+2x^2+1\\\\\text{Let's estimate this square, now.} \\\\(x^2+1)^2=x^4+2x^2+1\\\\\text{The two expressions are equal, meaning.} \\\\(2x)^2+(x^2-1)^2=(x^2+1)^2\\\\\text{Using Pythagoras' theorem, we can say that this is a right triangle.}`

Thank you