formula_2002
03-12-2005, 10:52 AM
From;
http://www.cut-the-knot.org/pythagoras/index.shtml (see diargam)
Pythagoras' Theorem claims that the sum of (the areas of) two small squares equals (the area of) the large one.
In algebraic terms, a2 + b2 = c2 where c is the hypotenuse while a and b are the sides of the triangle.
The theorem is of fundamental importance in the Euclidean Geometry where it serves as a basis for the definition of distance between two points. It's so basic and well known that, I believe, anyone who took geometry classes in high school couldn't fail to remember it long after other math notions got solidly forgotten.
The problem I have with this is as follows;
Let the area of a=36
Let the area of b=16
By theorem, area of c=52
However, by using the formula for calculating the area of a square, each side of “c” is the square root of 52.
If a Babylonian landlord, back in 1900 bc leased 52 square feet of land, measured 7.211 feet x 7.211 feet , at lets say a dollar of today’s money (with no adjustment for inflation), he would have over charged you and your family by the following;
$1.00 *(1900+2005)*(52-(*7.211*7.211))=$5.77
In the next 3905 years, that $5.77, at a compound daily interest race of 4% per year, would yield;
Compounded Rate of Return: 68089674798642715915102056453490868334958921453017 95435499256058740736.00%
(http://www.finaid.org/calculators/scripts/compoundinterest.cgi)
life sucks :jump:
http://www.cut-the-knot.org/pythagoras/index.shtml (see diargam)
Pythagoras' Theorem claims that the sum of (the areas of) two small squares equals (the area of) the large one.
In algebraic terms, a2 + b2 = c2 where c is the hypotenuse while a and b are the sides of the triangle.
The theorem is of fundamental importance in the Euclidean Geometry where it serves as a basis for the definition of distance between two points. It's so basic and well known that, I believe, anyone who took geometry classes in high school couldn't fail to remember it long after other math notions got solidly forgotten.
The problem I have with this is as follows;
Let the area of a=36
Let the area of b=16
By theorem, area of c=52
However, by using the formula for calculating the area of a square, each side of “c” is the square root of 52.
If a Babylonian landlord, back in 1900 bc leased 52 square feet of land, measured 7.211 feet x 7.211 feet , at lets say a dollar of today’s money (with no adjustment for inflation), he would have over charged you and your family by the following;
$1.00 *(1900+2005)*(52-(*7.211*7.211))=$5.77
In the next 3905 years, that $5.77, at a compound daily interest race of 4% per year, would yield;
Compounded Rate of Return: 68089674798642715915102056453490868334958921453017 95435499256058740736.00%
(http://www.finaid.org/calculators/scripts/compoundinterest.cgi)
life sucks :jump: