Pythagoras Playground
Launch this tool in a distraction-free environment optimized for classroom instruction.
About
This interactive sandbox lets your Grade 11 students manipulate a right-angled triangle to see the Pythagorean theorem in action. By dragging the corners, they can change the side lengths and watch the area squares instantly recalculate, making an abstract formula deeply concrete and visual. It takes the guesswork out of geometry by letting them literally see the math prove itself.
Created by John Hendry Tafui
STEM connections
By merging interactive geometry with fluid digital animation, this app transforms a classic mathematical theorem into a dynamic visual experience.
Mathematics: Geometric Proofs
Students manipulate the side lengths to see how the squares of the legs always sum to the square of the hypotenuse, reinforcing Pearson curriculum geometry standards.
Technology: Real-time Computation
As the triangle resizes, the live formula readout calculates the areas instantly, demonstrating the power of algorithmic updates.
Art: Data Visualization
The app uses color-coded grids and smooth pouring animations to make numerical relationships visually intuitive and beautiful.
What students will learn
Explain why the area of the squares on the shorter sides equals the square on the longest side.
Predict the area of the hypotenuse square given the lengths of the two legs.
Identify Pythagorean triples by looking for integer side lengths in the live readout.
Using it in class
This app works perfectly as a whole-class hook projected on the smartboard to introduce geometric proofs, or in pairs on tablets for guided exploration.