GANITA PRAKASH · GRADE 8 · PART II · CHAPTER 2
Quick Revision
Think first. Use AI purposefully. Verify always.
Concept Map
Theorem / Formula Bank
- Right triangle: +=, with c opposite the established right angle.
- Converse: for a triangle with longest side c, += establishes the right angle.
- Isosceles right triangle: c=a. An arbitrary isosceles triangle does not satisfy this rule.
- Square diagonal: d=a. Midpoint-square area is /2.
- 1.414<<1.415; finite decimals are approximations.
- Primitive triple: positive integer sides satisfying the theorem, with gcd 1.
- Odd-square generator: n=, with odd m≥3, gives (n−1,m,n).
For the converse, construct a right triangle with legs a,b. Its hypotenuse has length c by the theorem. SSS makes it congruent to the given triangle, establishing the right angle.
Visual Recall
Move the pieces; preserve the area
Two cuts separate W and X from the five-sided piece V. Total area: + = 45.
All four new sides are congruent hypotenuses. The two acute angles of a right triangle are complementary, so each new corner is 90°. This establishes a square before using its area formula.
Triple Bank
Primitive with all entries at most 20: (3,4,5), (5,12,13), (8,15,17). Other triples within that bound: (6,8,10), (9,12,15), (12,16,20). Further examples: (7,24,25), (12,35,37), (15,36,39).
Important Connections
Congruence and area preservation establish the dissection. The theorem connects area to length, then supports exact radicals, integer triples and applications.
On a unit lattice, every square area has the form p²+q² for integers p,q not both zero. The odd-square generator produces primitive triples but does not produce them all.
Common Mistakes
- Doubling the side makes four times the area, not twice.
- Halving the side leaves one quarter of the area.
- The formula needs an isosceles right triangle, not just any isosceles triangle.
- Write √2 ≈ 1.414, never √2 = 1.414. Repeating decimals such as 1/3 are rational.
- Equal total area alone does not prove the new boundary is a square; check its sides and angles.
- Never use the theorem for a triangle merely because its drawing looks right-angled.
- An integer right-triangle triple need not be primitive.
- (8,15,17) is primitive but not generated: neither leg is 16, one less than its hypotenuse.
- Use half-diagonals in a rhombus. Distinguish a square’s area from its side length.
- Square the lengths before adding or subtracting.
- The positive square root gives the length; negative lengths are not valid.
Mini Examples
DOUBLE — Area of the square constructed on its diagonal
Given
A square with side 3 units.
To Find
Area of the square constructed on its diagonal
Property
Four congruent half-square triangles form the new square.
Solution
- The original area is = 9 square units.
- The new square contains twice as many congruent triangles.
Result
The new area is 18 square units.
HALVE — Area of its midpoint square
Given
An outer square of side 8 units.
To Find
Area of its midpoint square
Property
Subtract the four congruent corner triangles.
Solution
- Each corner triangle has area = 8.
- Outer area = 64; removed area = 4 × 8 = 32.
Result
Midpoint-square area = 32 square units.
ROOT — Length of its hypotenuse
Given
An isosceles right triangle with equal legs 12.
To Find
Length of its hypotenuse
Property
= from square doubling.
Solution
- = 2 × = 288.
- c = = 12.
- < 288 < , so 16 < c < 17.
Result
The hypotenuse is exactly 12 units.
BOUND — Three-decimal lower and upper bounds for √2
Given
Positive candidates 1.414 and 1.415.
To Find
Three-decimal lower and upper bounds for
Property
Order of squares of positive numbers.
Solution
- 1. = 1.999396 < 2.
- 1. = 2.002225 > 2.
Result
1.414 < < 1.415.
COMBINE — Area of the square made by the source dissection
Given
Squares with sides 3 and 4 units.
To Find
Area of the square made by the source dissection
Property
Rearrangement preserves area; the boundary is a square by congruence and complementary angles.
Solution
- The two original areas are 9 and 16.
- The central piece stays fixed; the two right triangles are rigidly moved.
Result
The combined square has area 25 square units.
THEOREM — Length of the other leg b
Given
A right triangle with hypotenuse 17 cm and one leg 8 cm.
To Find
Length of the other leg b
Property
+ = .
Solution
- = 289 − 64 = 225.
- b = = 15; length is positive.
Result
The other leg is 15 cm.
TRIPLES — Its primitive triple and scale factor
Given
The triple (15,36,39).
To Find
Its primitive triple and scale factor
Property
Divide every entry by their greatest common divisor.
Solution
- gcd(15,36,39) = 3.
- Dividing gives (5,12,13).
- + = and gcd(5,12,13) = 1.
Result
Primitive triple (5,12,13), scale factor 3.
GENERATE — The triple generated from this odd square
Given
Odd square 49 = .
To Find
The triple generated from this odd square
Property
2n−1 = 49 and (n−1) + 49 = .
Solution
- n = 25 and n−1 = 24.
- + = 576 + 49 = 625 = .
Result
The primitive triple is (24,7,25).
APPLY — Length of each rhombus side
Given
A rhombus has diagonals 24 and 70 units.
To Find
Length of each rhombus side
Property
Rhombus diagonals bisect each other at right angles.
Solution
- Half-diagonals are 12 and 35.
- A side is the hypotenuse: = + = 1369.
- s = 37.
Result
Each side is 37 units.
5-Question Quick Check
Progress: checked correctly
