Proof without words of a simple conjecture about any triangle









up vote
9
down vote

favorite
4












Given the midpoint (or centroid) $D$ of any triangle $triangle ABC$, we build three squares on the three segments connecting $D$ with the three vertices. Then, we consider the centers $K,L,M$ of the three squares.



enter image description here



My conjecture is that




The area of the triangle $triangle KLM$ is equal to half of the area of the triangle $triangle ABC$.




enter image description here



This is for sure a well known result (well, if true!). In this case, sorry for the trivial problem!



However, It would be great to have suggestions for developing a proof without words of such simple claim (again, if true), i.e. avoiding trigonometry, etc. Thanks for your help!



EDIT: The conjecture can be easily extended to any regular polygon built on the described segments (e.g. equilateral triangles yield to $1/3$ of the $triangle ABC$ area, etc.).



EDIT (2): The (extended) conjecture appears to be true also by building the segments starting from the orthocenter (red, left), instead of the centroid (grey, right). The area of the final triangle $triangle KLM$ is however the same!



enter image description here










share|cite|improve this question























  • Would you know a reference for the proof of this please? Thanks.
    – NoChance
    Nov 11 at 17:36










  • @NoChance Well, I am not fully sure that this claim is true. Therefore I have no clue of a proof. Maybe should I remove the tag "alternative-proof"? Sorry for confusion.
    – user559615
    Nov 11 at 17:38











  • Thank you for your response, somehow I though there is a proof because of the wording "This is for sure a well known result". Very interesting idea.
    – NoChance
    Nov 11 at 17:40










  • A proof without words generally takes a known proof, and finds a geometric representation of what's happening. If you don't yet know that it's true, then finding a proof would be a better place to start than looking for a specific type of proof.
    – Teepeemm
    Nov 11 at 20:44










  • @Teepeemm Sure, I definitely agree. However, now greedoid provided a very nice and simple proof. So we can maybe focus on the proof without words! ; )
    – user559615
    Nov 11 at 21:25














up vote
9
down vote

favorite
4












Given the midpoint (or centroid) $D$ of any triangle $triangle ABC$, we build three squares on the three segments connecting $D$ with the three vertices. Then, we consider the centers $K,L,M$ of the three squares.



enter image description here



My conjecture is that




The area of the triangle $triangle KLM$ is equal to half of the area of the triangle $triangle ABC$.




enter image description here



This is for sure a well known result (well, if true!). In this case, sorry for the trivial problem!



However, It would be great to have suggestions for developing a proof without words of such simple claim (again, if true), i.e. avoiding trigonometry, etc. Thanks for your help!



EDIT: The conjecture can be easily extended to any regular polygon built on the described segments (e.g. equilateral triangles yield to $1/3$ of the $triangle ABC$ area, etc.).



EDIT (2): The (extended) conjecture appears to be true also by building the segments starting from the orthocenter (red, left), instead of the centroid (grey, right). The area of the final triangle $triangle KLM$ is however the same!



enter image description here










share|cite|improve this question























  • Would you know a reference for the proof of this please? Thanks.
    – NoChance
    Nov 11 at 17:36










  • @NoChance Well, I am not fully sure that this claim is true. Therefore I have no clue of a proof. Maybe should I remove the tag "alternative-proof"? Sorry for confusion.
    – user559615
    Nov 11 at 17:38











  • Thank you for your response, somehow I though there is a proof because of the wording "This is for sure a well known result". Very interesting idea.
    – NoChance
    Nov 11 at 17:40










  • A proof without words generally takes a known proof, and finds a geometric representation of what's happening. If you don't yet know that it's true, then finding a proof would be a better place to start than looking for a specific type of proof.
    – Teepeemm
    Nov 11 at 20:44










  • @Teepeemm Sure, I definitely agree. However, now greedoid provided a very nice and simple proof. So we can maybe focus on the proof without words! ; )
    – user559615
    Nov 11 at 21:25












up vote
9
down vote

favorite
4









up vote
9
down vote

favorite
4






4





Given the midpoint (or centroid) $D$ of any triangle $triangle ABC$, we build three squares on the three segments connecting $D$ with the three vertices. Then, we consider the centers $K,L,M$ of the three squares.



enter image description here



My conjecture is that




The area of the triangle $triangle KLM$ is equal to half of the area of the triangle $triangle ABC$.




enter image description here



This is for sure a well known result (well, if true!). In this case, sorry for the trivial problem!



However, It would be great to have suggestions for developing a proof without words of such simple claim (again, if true), i.e. avoiding trigonometry, etc. Thanks for your help!



EDIT: The conjecture can be easily extended to any regular polygon built on the described segments (e.g. equilateral triangles yield to $1/3$ of the $triangle ABC$ area, etc.).



EDIT (2): The (extended) conjecture appears to be true also by building the segments starting from the orthocenter (red, left), instead of the centroid (grey, right). The area of the final triangle $triangle KLM$ is however the same!



enter image description here










share|cite|improve this question















Given the midpoint (or centroid) $D$ of any triangle $triangle ABC$, we build three squares on the three segments connecting $D$ with the three vertices. Then, we consider the centers $K,L,M$ of the three squares.



enter image description here



My conjecture is that




The area of the triangle $triangle KLM$ is equal to half of the area of the triangle $triangle ABC$.




enter image description here



This is for sure a well known result (well, if true!). In this case, sorry for the trivial problem!



However, It would be great to have suggestions for developing a proof without words of such simple claim (again, if true), i.e. avoiding trigonometry, etc. Thanks for your help!



EDIT: The conjecture can be easily extended to any regular polygon built on the described segments (e.g. equilateral triangles yield to $1/3$ of the $triangle ABC$ area, etc.).



EDIT (2): The (extended) conjecture appears to be true also by building the segments starting from the orthocenter (red, left), instead of the centroid (grey, right). The area of the final triangle $triangle KLM$ is however the same!



enter image description here







geometry euclidean-geometry triangle geometric-construction






share|cite|improve this question















share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question








edited Nov 12 at 16:01

























asked Nov 11 at 17:31







user559615


















  • Would you know a reference for the proof of this please? Thanks.
    – NoChance
    Nov 11 at 17:36










  • @NoChance Well, I am not fully sure that this claim is true. Therefore I have no clue of a proof. Maybe should I remove the tag "alternative-proof"? Sorry for confusion.
    – user559615
    Nov 11 at 17:38











  • Thank you for your response, somehow I though there is a proof because of the wording "This is for sure a well known result". Very interesting idea.
    – NoChance
    Nov 11 at 17:40










  • A proof without words generally takes a known proof, and finds a geometric representation of what's happening. If you don't yet know that it's true, then finding a proof would be a better place to start than looking for a specific type of proof.
    – Teepeemm
    Nov 11 at 20:44










  • @Teepeemm Sure, I definitely agree. However, now greedoid provided a very nice and simple proof. So we can maybe focus on the proof without words! ; )
    – user559615
    Nov 11 at 21:25
















  • Would you know a reference for the proof of this please? Thanks.
    – NoChance
    Nov 11 at 17:36










  • @NoChance Well, I am not fully sure that this claim is true. Therefore I have no clue of a proof. Maybe should I remove the tag "alternative-proof"? Sorry for confusion.
    – user559615
    Nov 11 at 17:38











  • Thank you for your response, somehow I though there is a proof because of the wording "This is for sure a well known result". Very interesting idea.
    – NoChance
    Nov 11 at 17:40










  • A proof without words generally takes a known proof, and finds a geometric representation of what's happening. If you don't yet know that it's true, then finding a proof would be a better place to start than looking for a specific type of proof.
    – Teepeemm
    Nov 11 at 20:44










  • @Teepeemm Sure, I definitely agree. However, now greedoid provided a very nice and simple proof. So we can maybe focus on the proof without words! ; )
    – user559615
    Nov 11 at 21:25















Would you know a reference for the proof of this please? Thanks.
– NoChance
Nov 11 at 17:36




Would you know a reference for the proof of this please? Thanks.
– NoChance
Nov 11 at 17:36












@NoChance Well, I am not fully sure that this claim is true. Therefore I have no clue of a proof. Maybe should I remove the tag "alternative-proof"? Sorry for confusion.
– user559615
Nov 11 at 17:38





@NoChance Well, I am not fully sure that this claim is true. Therefore I have no clue of a proof. Maybe should I remove the tag "alternative-proof"? Sorry for confusion.
– user559615
Nov 11 at 17:38













Thank you for your response, somehow I though there is a proof because of the wording "This is for sure a well known result". Very interesting idea.
– NoChance
Nov 11 at 17:40




Thank you for your response, somehow I though there is a proof because of the wording "This is for sure a well known result". Very interesting idea.
– NoChance
Nov 11 at 17:40












A proof without words generally takes a known proof, and finds a geometric representation of what's happening. If you don't yet know that it's true, then finding a proof would be a better place to start than looking for a specific type of proof.
– Teepeemm
Nov 11 at 20:44




A proof without words generally takes a known proof, and finds a geometric representation of what's happening. If you don't yet know that it's true, then finding a proof would be a better place to start than looking for a specific type of proof.
– Teepeemm
Nov 11 at 20:44












@Teepeemm Sure, I definitely agree. However, now greedoid provided a very nice and simple proof. So we can maybe focus on the proof without words! ; )
– user559615
Nov 11 at 21:25




@Teepeemm Sure, I definitely agree. However, now greedoid provided a very nice and simple proof. So we can maybe focus on the proof without words! ; )
– user559615
Nov 11 at 21:25










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
7
down vote



accepted










Observe a spiral similarity with center at $D$ which takes $A$ to $K$. Then it takes $B$ to $M$ and $C$ to $L$. So this map takes triangle $ABC$ to triangle $KML$ which means that they are similary with dilatation coefficient $k=sqrt2over 2$ So the ratio of the areas is $k^2 =1/2$.






share|cite|improve this answer




















  • Thanks, greedoid for your always neat answers. I thought there could be some even easier solution, tangram/mosaic-like. But I am not sure. Thanks again however!
    – user559615
    Nov 11 at 17:45










  • Oh, sorry, I'm a bad reader (and writter). Anyway you should develop whole theory before you can play with ,,proofs without words''. You can not do anything just by the picture.
    – greedoid
    Nov 11 at 17:50










  • True. I see your point. Say, I thought it should have been not too difficult to prove this (e.g. with trigonometry), but I was looking for a more visual approach. But, true: first one has to have a proof! Therefore, thanks again for yours!
    – user559615
    Nov 11 at 18:26







  • 1




    I've just realized that the conjecture can be extended by building any regular polygon on these segments (with equilateral triangles, the centers define a triangle of area $1/3$ of the initial triangle, with hexagons, the areas coincide and so on). I think your proof can be nicely generalized!
    – user559615
    Nov 11 at 21:51


















up vote
0
down vote













The two triangles share a centroid. The small triangle vertices are one half of each square's diagonal while the larger triangle has the length of a side. The triangles are similar since lengths are proportional by a factor of sqrt(2) which we square for an area comparison of 2:1 in favor of the larger one.






share|cite|improve this answer
















  • 1




    Perhaps as a visual you can show the construction of the squares, show a copy of each side as it contracts in length and rotates into position along the diagonal to the shared centroid. Then connect the vertices to show the small triangle. I believe this would have the desired effect except for deriving the factor of sqrt(2) which would require a visual proof of this case of the pythagorean theorem. I imagine there are several of those available for such a popular theorem.
    – Nathan
    Nov 11 at 23:16











  • Thanks Nathan. And welcome on MSE!
    – user559615
    Nov 12 at 4:31










  • Thanks for the interesting challenge and welcome. It just popped up on my Google feed!
    – Nathan
    Nov 13 at 18:46

















up vote
0
down vote













This could be an idea for a "proof without words":
enter image description here






share|cite|improve this answer





























    up vote
    0
    down vote













    In the special case where $triangle ABC$ is right and isosceles, it seems true almost visually that, in triangles $KLM$ and $ABC$, base$$KM=BC$$and altitude$$BA=2BE$$making$$triangle ABC=2triangle KLM$$ABC=2KLM



    On the other hand, if we build the squares on the sides of $triangle ABC$, as in the figure below, the reverse appears to happen:$$triangle KLM=2triangle ABC$$since base$$KL=AC$$and altitude$$BM=2BE$$KLM=2ABC



    OP's conjecture seems, as some are suggesting, a particular result of a larger general theory?



    The above figures suggest perhaps the further question, whether a "proof without words" is ever really possible; it seems words are implicitly present in any train of thought, and a proposition that was truly self-evident would not be a proof strictly speaking but rather a basis or element of a proof.






    share|cite|improve this answer




















      Your Answer





      StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function ()
      return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function ()
      StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix)
      StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
      );
      );
      , "mathjax-editing");

      StackExchange.ready(function()
      var channelOptions =
      tags: "".split(" "),
      id: "69"
      ;
      initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

      StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
      // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
      if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
      StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
      createEditor();
      );

      else
      createEditor();

      );

      function createEditor()
      StackExchange.prepareEditor(
      heartbeatType: 'answer',
      convertImagesToLinks: true,
      noModals: true,
      showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
      reputationToPostImages: 10,
      bindNavPrevention: true,
      postfix: "",
      imageUploader:
      brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
      contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
      allowUrls: true
      ,
      noCode: true, onDemand: true,
      discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
      ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
      );



      );













      draft saved

      draft discarded


















      StackExchange.ready(
      function ()
      StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f2994161%2fproof-without-words-of-a-simple-conjecture-about-any-triangle%23new-answer', 'question_page');

      );

      Post as a guest















      Required, but never shown
























      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes








      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes








      up vote
      7
      down vote



      accepted










      Observe a spiral similarity with center at $D$ which takes $A$ to $K$. Then it takes $B$ to $M$ and $C$ to $L$. So this map takes triangle $ABC$ to triangle $KML$ which means that they are similary with dilatation coefficient $k=sqrt2over 2$ So the ratio of the areas is $k^2 =1/2$.






      share|cite|improve this answer




















      • Thanks, greedoid for your always neat answers. I thought there could be some even easier solution, tangram/mosaic-like. But I am not sure. Thanks again however!
        – user559615
        Nov 11 at 17:45










      • Oh, sorry, I'm a bad reader (and writter). Anyway you should develop whole theory before you can play with ,,proofs without words''. You can not do anything just by the picture.
        – greedoid
        Nov 11 at 17:50










      • True. I see your point. Say, I thought it should have been not too difficult to prove this (e.g. with trigonometry), but I was looking for a more visual approach. But, true: first one has to have a proof! Therefore, thanks again for yours!
        – user559615
        Nov 11 at 18:26







      • 1




        I've just realized that the conjecture can be extended by building any regular polygon on these segments (with equilateral triangles, the centers define a triangle of area $1/3$ of the initial triangle, with hexagons, the areas coincide and so on). I think your proof can be nicely generalized!
        – user559615
        Nov 11 at 21:51















      up vote
      7
      down vote



      accepted










      Observe a spiral similarity with center at $D$ which takes $A$ to $K$. Then it takes $B$ to $M$ and $C$ to $L$. So this map takes triangle $ABC$ to triangle $KML$ which means that they are similary with dilatation coefficient $k=sqrt2over 2$ So the ratio of the areas is $k^2 =1/2$.






      share|cite|improve this answer




















      • Thanks, greedoid for your always neat answers. I thought there could be some even easier solution, tangram/mosaic-like. But I am not sure. Thanks again however!
        – user559615
        Nov 11 at 17:45










      • Oh, sorry, I'm a bad reader (and writter). Anyway you should develop whole theory before you can play with ,,proofs without words''. You can not do anything just by the picture.
        – greedoid
        Nov 11 at 17:50










      • True. I see your point. Say, I thought it should have been not too difficult to prove this (e.g. with trigonometry), but I was looking for a more visual approach. But, true: first one has to have a proof! Therefore, thanks again for yours!
        – user559615
        Nov 11 at 18:26







      • 1




        I've just realized that the conjecture can be extended by building any regular polygon on these segments (with equilateral triangles, the centers define a triangle of area $1/3$ of the initial triangle, with hexagons, the areas coincide and so on). I think your proof can be nicely generalized!
        – user559615
        Nov 11 at 21:51













      up vote
      7
      down vote



      accepted







      up vote
      7
      down vote



      accepted






      Observe a spiral similarity with center at $D$ which takes $A$ to $K$. Then it takes $B$ to $M$ and $C$ to $L$. So this map takes triangle $ABC$ to triangle $KML$ which means that they are similary with dilatation coefficient $k=sqrt2over 2$ So the ratio of the areas is $k^2 =1/2$.






      share|cite|improve this answer












      Observe a spiral similarity with center at $D$ which takes $A$ to $K$. Then it takes $B$ to $M$ and $C$ to $L$. So this map takes triangle $ABC$ to triangle $KML$ which means that they are similary with dilatation coefficient $k=sqrt2over 2$ So the ratio of the areas is $k^2 =1/2$.







      share|cite|improve this answer












      share|cite|improve this answer



      share|cite|improve this answer










      answered Nov 11 at 17:40









      greedoid

      36.4k114592




      36.4k114592











      • Thanks, greedoid for your always neat answers. I thought there could be some even easier solution, tangram/mosaic-like. But I am not sure. Thanks again however!
        – user559615
        Nov 11 at 17:45










      • Oh, sorry, I'm a bad reader (and writter). Anyway you should develop whole theory before you can play with ,,proofs without words''. You can not do anything just by the picture.
        – greedoid
        Nov 11 at 17:50










      • True. I see your point. Say, I thought it should have been not too difficult to prove this (e.g. with trigonometry), but I was looking for a more visual approach. But, true: first one has to have a proof! Therefore, thanks again for yours!
        – user559615
        Nov 11 at 18:26







      • 1




        I've just realized that the conjecture can be extended by building any regular polygon on these segments (with equilateral triangles, the centers define a triangle of area $1/3$ of the initial triangle, with hexagons, the areas coincide and so on). I think your proof can be nicely generalized!
        – user559615
        Nov 11 at 21:51

















      • Thanks, greedoid for your always neat answers. I thought there could be some even easier solution, tangram/mosaic-like. But I am not sure. Thanks again however!
        – user559615
        Nov 11 at 17:45










      • Oh, sorry, I'm a bad reader (and writter). Anyway you should develop whole theory before you can play with ,,proofs without words''. You can not do anything just by the picture.
        – greedoid
        Nov 11 at 17:50










      • True. I see your point. Say, I thought it should have been not too difficult to prove this (e.g. with trigonometry), but I was looking for a more visual approach. But, true: first one has to have a proof! Therefore, thanks again for yours!
        – user559615
        Nov 11 at 18:26







      • 1




        I've just realized that the conjecture can be extended by building any regular polygon on these segments (with equilateral triangles, the centers define a triangle of area $1/3$ of the initial triangle, with hexagons, the areas coincide and so on). I think your proof can be nicely generalized!
        – user559615
        Nov 11 at 21:51
















      Thanks, greedoid for your always neat answers. I thought there could be some even easier solution, tangram/mosaic-like. But I am not sure. Thanks again however!
      – user559615
      Nov 11 at 17:45




      Thanks, greedoid for your always neat answers. I thought there could be some even easier solution, tangram/mosaic-like. But I am not sure. Thanks again however!
      – user559615
      Nov 11 at 17:45












      Oh, sorry, I'm a bad reader (and writter). Anyway you should develop whole theory before you can play with ,,proofs without words''. You can not do anything just by the picture.
      – greedoid
      Nov 11 at 17:50




      Oh, sorry, I'm a bad reader (and writter). Anyway you should develop whole theory before you can play with ,,proofs without words''. You can not do anything just by the picture.
      – greedoid
      Nov 11 at 17:50












      True. I see your point. Say, I thought it should have been not too difficult to prove this (e.g. with trigonometry), but I was looking for a more visual approach. But, true: first one has to have a proof! Therefore, thanks again for yours!
      – user559615
      Nov 11 at 18:26





      True. I see your point. Say, I thought it should have been not too difficult to prove this (e.g. with trigonometry), but I was looking for a more visual approach. But, true: first one has to have a proof! Therefore, thanks again for yours!
      – user559615
      Nov 11 at 18:26





      1




      1




      I've just realized that the conjecture can be extended by building any regular polygon on these segments (with equilateral triangles, the centers define a triangle of area $1/3$ of the initial triangle, with hexagons, the areas coincide and so on). I think your proof can be nicely generalized!
      – user559615
      Nov 11 at 21:51





      I've just realized that the conjecture can be extended by building any regular polygon on these segments (with equilateral triangles, the centers define a triangle of area $1/3$ of the initial triangle, with hexagons, the areas coincide and so on). I think your proof can be nicely generalized!
      – user559615
      Nov 11 at 21:51











      up vote
      0
      down vote













      The two triangles share a centroid. The small triangle vertices are one half of each square's diagonal while the larger triangle has the length of a side. The triangles are similar since lengths are proportional by a factor of sqrt(2) which we square for an area comparison of 2:1 in favor of the larger one.






      share|cite|improve this answer
















      • 1




        Perhaps as a visual you can show the construction of the squares, show a copy of each side as it contracts in length and rotates into position along the diagonal to the shared centroid. Then connect the vertices to show the small triangle. I believe this would have the desired effect except for deriving the factor of sqrt(2) which would require a visual proof of this case of the pythagorean theorem. I imagine there are several of those available for such a popular theorem.
        – Nathan
        Nov 11 at 23:16











      • Thanks Nathan. And welcome on MSE!
        – user559615
        Nov 12 at 4:31










      • Thanks for the interesting challenge and welcome. It just popped up on my Google feed!
        – Nathan
        Nov 13 at 18:46














      up vote
      0
      down vote













      The two triangles share a centroid. The small triangle vertices are one half of each square's diagonal while the larger triangle has the length of a side. The triangles are similar since lengths are proportional by a factor of sqrt(2) which we square for an area comparison of 2:1 in favor of the larger one.






      share|cite|improve this answer
















      • 1




        Perhaps as a visual you can show the construction of the squares, show a copy of each side as it contracts in length and rotates into position along the diagonal to the shared centroid. Then connect the vertices to show the small triangle. I believe this would have the desired effect except for deriving the factor of sqrt(2) which would require a visual proof of this case of the pythagorean theorem. I imagine there are several of those available for such a popular theorem.
        – Nathan
        Nov 11 at 23:16











      • Thanks Nathan. And welcome on MSE!
        – user559615
        Nov 12 at 4:31










      • Thanks for the interesting challenge and welcome. It just popped up on my Google feed!
        – Nathan
        Nov 13 at 18:46












      up vote
      0
      down vote










      up vote
      0
      down vote









      The two triangles share a centroid. The small triangle vertices are one half of each square's diagonal while the larger triangle has the length of a side. The triangles are similar since lengths are proportional by a factor of sqrt(2) which we square for an area comparison of 2:1 in favor of the larger one.






      share|cite|improve this answer












      The two triangles share a centroid. The small triangle vertices are one half of each square's diagonal while the larger triangle has the length of a side. The triangles are similar since lengths are proportional by a factor of sqrt(2) which we square for an area comparison of 2:1 in favor of the larger one.







      share|cite|improve this answer












      share|cite|improve this answer



      share|cite|improve this answer










      answered Nov 11 at 23:07









      Nathan

      11




      11







      • 1




        Perhaps as a visual you can show the construction of the squares, show a copy of each side as it contracts in length and rotates into position along the diagonal to the shared centroid. Then connect the vertices to show the small triangle. I believe this would have the desired effect except for deriving the factor of sqrt(2) which would require a visual proof of this case of the pythagorean theorem. I imagine there are several of those available for such a popular theorem.
        – Nathan
        Nov 11 at 23:16











      • Thanks Nathan. And welcome on MSE!
        – user559615
        Nov 12 at 4:31










      • Thanks for the interesting challenge and welcome. It just popped up on my Google feed!
        – Nathan
        Nov 13 at 18:46












      • 1




        Perhaps as a visual you can show the construction of the squares, show a copy of each side as it contracts in length and rotates into position along the diagonal to the shared centroid. Then connect the vertices to show the small triangle. I believe this would have the desired effect except for deriving the factor of sqrt(2) which would require a visual proof of this case of the pythagorean theorem. I imagine there are several of those available for such a popular theorem.
        – Nathan
        Nov 11 at 23:16











      • Thanks Nathan. And welcome on MSE!
        – user559615
        Nov 12 at 4:31










      • Thanks for the interesting challenge and welcome. It just popped up on my Google feed!
        – Nathan
        Nov 13 at 18:46







      1




      1




      Perhaps as a visual you can show the construction of the squares, show a copy of each side as it contracts in length and rotates into position along the diagonal to the shared centroid. Then connect the vertices to show the small triangle. I believe this would have the desired effect except for deriving the factor of sqrt(2) which would require a visual proof of this case of the pythagorean theorem. I imagine there are several of those available for such a popular theorem.
      – Nathan
      Nov 11 at 23:16





      Perhaps as a visual you can show the construction of the squares, show a copy of each side as it contracts in length and rotates into position along the diagonal to the shared centroid. Then connect the vertices to show the small triangle. I believe this would have the desired effect except for deriving the factor of sqrt(2) which would require a visual proof of this case of the pythagorean theorem. I imagine there are several of those available for such a popular theorem.
      – Nathan
      Nov 11 at 23:16













      Thanks Nathan. And welcome on MSE!
      – user559615
      Nov 12 at 4:31




      Thanks Nathan. And welcome on MSE!
      – user559615
      Nov 12 at 4:31












      Thanks for the interesting challenge and welcome. It just popped up on my Google feed!
      – Nathan
      Nov 13 at 18:46




      Thanks for the interesting challenge and welcome. It just popped up on my Google feed!
      – Nathan
      Nov 13 at 18:46










      up vote
      0
      down vote













      This could be an idea for a "proof without words":
      enter image description here






      share|cite|improve this answer


























        up vote
        0
        down vote













        This could be an idea for a "proof without words":
        enter image description here






        share|cite|improve this answer
























          up vote
          0
          down vote










          up vote
          0
          down vote









          This could be an idea for a "proof without words":
          enter image description here






          share|cite|improve this answer














          This could be an idea for a "proof without words":
          enter image description here







          share|cite|improve this answer














          share|cite|improve this answer



          share|cite|improve this answer








          edited Nov 12 at 14:16

























          answered Nov 12 at 9:45







          user559615



























              up vote
              0
              down vote













              In the special case where $triangle ABC$ is right and isosceles, it seems true almost visually that, in triangles $KLM$ and $ABC$, base$$KM=BC$$and altitude$$BA=2BE$$making$$triangle ABC=2triangle KLM$$ABC=2KLM



              On the other hand, if we build the squares on the sides of $triangle ABC$, as in the figure below, the reverse appears to happen:$$triangle KLM=2triangle ABC$$since base$$KL=AC$$and altitude$$BM=2BE$$KLM=2ABC



              OP's conjecture seems, as some are suggesting, a particular result of a larger general theory?



              The above figures suggest perhaps the further question, whether a "proof without words" is ever really possible; it seems words are implicitly present in any train of thought, and a proposition that was truly self-evident would not be a proof strictly speaking but rather a basis or element of a proof.






              share|cite|improve this answer
























                up vote
                0
                down vote













                In the special case where $triangle ABC$ is right and isosceles, it seems true almost visually that, in triangles $KLM$ and $ABC$, base$$KM=BC$$and altitude$$BA=2BE$$making$$triangle ABC=2triangle KLM$$ABC=2KLM



                On the other hand, if we build the squares on the sides of $triangle ABC$, as in the figure below, the reverse appears to happen:$$triangle KLM=2triangle ABC$$since base$$KL=AC$$and altitude$$BM=2BE$$KLM=2ABC



                OP's conjecture seems, as some are suggesting, a particular result of a larger general theory?



                The above figures suggest perhaps the further question, whether a "proof without words" is ever really possible; it seems words are implicitly present in any train of thought, and a proposition that was truly self-evident would not be a proof strictly speaking but rather a basis or element of a proof.






                share|cite|improve this answer






















                  up vote
                  0
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  0
                  down vote









                  In the special case where $triangle ABC$ is right and isosceles, it seems true almost visually that, in triangles $KLM$ and $ABC$, base$$KM=BC$$and altitude$$BA=2BE$$making$$triangle ABC=2triangle KLM$$ABC=2KLM



                  On the other hand, if we build the squares on the sides of $triangle ABC$, as in the figure below, the reverse appears to happen:$$triangle KLM=2triangle ABC$$since base$$KL=AC$$and altitude$$BM=2BE$$KLM=2ABC



                  OP's conjecture seems, as some are suggesting, a particular result of a larger general theory?



                  The above figures suggest perhaps the further question, whether a "proof without words" is ever really possible; it seems words are implicitly present in any train of thought, and a proposition that was truly self-evident would not be a proof strictly speaking but rather a basis or element of a proof.






                  share|cite|improve this answer












                  In the special case where $triangle ABC$ is right and isosceles, it seems true almost visually that, in triangles $KLM$ and $ABC$, base$$KM=BC$$and altitude$$BA=2BE$$making$$triangle ABC=2triangle KLM$$ABC=2KLM



                  On the other hand, if we build the squares on the sides of $triangle ABC$, as in the figure below, the reverse appears to happen:$$triangle KLM=2triangle ABC$$since base$$KL=AC$$and altitude$$BM=2BE$$KLM=2ABC



                  OP's conjecture seems, as some are suggesting, a particular result of a larger general theory?



                  The above figures suggest perhaps the further question, whether a "proof without words" is ever really possible; it seems words are implicitly present in any train of thought, and a proposition that was truly self-evident would not be a proof strictly speaking but rather a basis or element of a proof.







                  share|cite|improve this answer












                  share|cite|improve this answer



                  share|cite|improve this answer










                  answered Nov 14 at 8:24









                  Edward Porcella

                  1,4011411




                  1,4011411



























                      draft saved

                      draft discarded
















































                      Thanks for contributing an answer to Mathematics Stack Exchange!


                      • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

                      But avoid


                      • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

                      • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.

                      Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.


                      To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.





                      Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.


                      Please pay close attention to the following guidance:


                      • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

                      But avoid


                      • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

                      • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.

                      To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




                      draft saved


                      draft discarded














                      StackExchange.ready(
                      function ()
                      StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f2994161%2fproof-without-words-of-a-simple-conjecture-about-any-triangle%23new-answer', 'question_page');

                      );

                      Post as a guest















                      Required, but never shown





















































                      Required, but never shown














                      Required, but never shown












                      Required, but never shown







                      Required, but never shown

































                      Required, but never shown














                      Required, but never shown












                      Required, but never shown







                      Required, but never shown







                      這個網誌中的熱門文章

                      How to read a connectionString WITH PROVIDER in .NET Core?

                      In R, how to develop a multiplot heatmap.2 figure showing key labels successfully

                      Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Trento and Rovereto