Euclid’s Proof of the Pythagorean Theorem

The Pythagorean Theorem states that in any right triangle, the square of the side opposite the right
angle (the hypotenuse) is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides. Although the method
of the proof depicted was written about 300 BC and is credited to Euclid, the theorem is named for
Pythagoras, who lived 250 years earlier. However, knowing a theorem is different from demonstrating it,
and the first surviving demonstration of this theorem is found in Euclid’s Elements, Book I. Book I ended
in propositions 47 and 48 with a remarkably clever proof of the Pythagorean Theorem and its converse.

Proposition XLVII of Book 1 (The Mousetrap Proof)

In right-angled triangles the square on the side opposite the right angle equals the sum of the squares
on the sides containing the right angle.

(1) AJKD = 2(△CAD)

This is because each figure has the same base AD and the same altitude AJ. In like manner, since the
lower square AFGC and the triangle FAB have the same base AF and the same altitude AC, the area of
the square is twice the area of the triangle:

(2) AFGC = 2(△FAB)

We see that the two triangles CAD and FAB are congruent by the side-angle-side theorem (AC = AF,
<CAD = <CAB + <DAB = <CAB + <CAF = <FAB, and AD = AB), hence have the same area; that is

(3) △CAD = △FAB

Putting relations (1) and (2) together, we conclude at once that

(4) AJKD = AFGC:

By exactly the same reasoning, it can be demonstrated that the rectangle BEKJ and square BCHI are of
equal area:

(5) BEKJ = BCHI

But a glance at the diagram shows that the area of the square on the hypotenuse is the sum of the areas
of the two rectangles AJKD and BEKJ. Thus,

(6) ABED = AJKD + BEKJ

= AFGC + BCHI

And, with a change of notation, the theorem obtains:

AB2 = AC2 + CB2. (QED)

Proposition XLVIII of Book 1

If in a triangle the square on one of the sides equals the sum of the squares on the remaining two sides
of the triangle, then the angle contained by the remaining two sides of the triangle is right.

We need to prove that: <DAC = <CAB

Construction

BC2 = AC2 + AB2 (Given)

Line AD ⊥ Line AC

Line AD = Line AB

Line DC (Postulate 1)

We need to prove that: <DAC = <CAB = right angle

Proof

AC2 + AB2 = DC2 (Proposition 47)

AD2 = AB2

AC2 + AB2 = DC2 (Proposition 47)

BC2 = DC2 (Common Notion 1)

Line BC = Line DC

Line AB = Line AD

Line CA = Line CA

△CAD = △CDA (Proposition 8: If two triangles have the two sides equal to two sides respectively, and
also have the base equal to the base, then they also have the angles equal which are contained by the
equal straight lines Commonly known as side-side-side theorem.)

∴ <DAC = <CAB = right angle (QED)

Proposition XXXI of Book VI

In right-angled triangles the figure on the side opposite the right angle equals the sum of the similar and
similarly described figures on the sides containing the right angle.

We need to prove that: A1 = A2 + A3

Draw a line from A to D, perpendicular to BC

Line AD ⊥ Line BC

Since a perpendicular line (AD) has been drawn from the right angle of the right triangle (ABC) to
its base, resulting triangles (ABD, ADC) are similar to each other and the whole (ABC). (VI.
Proposition 8)

ABD ~ ADC ~ ABC

Therefore the ratio BC to AB is equal to the ratio AB to BD. (VI. Definition 1)

BC: AB = AB: BD

The three lines BC, AB, BD are proportional; therefore the ratio of BC to BD is equal to ratio of the
figures drawn on BC and AB. (VI. Proposition 19)

BC: BD = A1: A2

Similarly, the ratio BC to AB is equal to the ratio AB to BD,

BC: AC = AC: CD

Thus the ratio of BC to CD is equal to the ratio of the figures drawn on BC and AC

BC: CD = A1: A3

Therefore, the ratio of BC to the sum of BD, CD is equal to the ratio of the figure on AC to the sum of the
figures on AB, AC (V. Proposition 24)

BC: (BD + CD) = A1: (A2 + A3)

But BD, CD is equal to BC

BC: BC = A1: (A2 + A3)

Thus the figure drawn on BC is equal to the sum of the figures drawn on AB and AC.

∴ A1 = A2 + A3 (QED)