Your students are learning one of the great truths of the mathematical universe—a special relationship between the hypotenuse and legs of a right triangle. It was discovered by Pythagoras around 500 B.C., discovered by Babylonians some 1,000 years earlier, and at one point it was proven by a U.S. president.
It’s sturdy! Tested by time! It’s a great opportunity to communicate to students the truth that you can’t break math.
Perhaps they think you calculate the hypotenuse of a right triangle by adding the legs: A + B = C. You don’t have to tell them they’re wrong. They can try out their idea and see the turtle move past the target and then try a different idea.
Throughout that process, you can help students develop their ideas about right triangles and also help them develop an idea about math that will help them for years to come—you can’t break math.
Dan & the Desmos Classroom Team
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Great advice from other teachers.
Pella, IA
Ask students to be precise with language. I had students saying, "Take the root of the number." But this was an opportunity for more precision.
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