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SolidWorks Lesson Template for Teachers to Contribute
Cover Sheet for Exemplary Lessons/Units Project
Faculty Member Name: M. Planchard
Date: 4/17/06
Organization: SolidWorks Corporation
Title of Lesson/Unit: Pythagorean Theorem, Perfect Squares and Square Roots
Applicable for Trigonometry, PreCalculus, Calculus and Physics.
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Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) STEM Concepts Addressed: This
lesson develops the Pythagorean Theorem and the measurement of triangles. It
reinforces perfect squares and square roots. It is important to know the values of
squared numbers from 1 to 20, how to factor square roots by hand, and common square
root values without a calculator. The game here is to guess the hypotenuse by
estimating with perfect squares. Common perfect square triangles are exploder, 3-4-5
and 5-12-13. Isosceles triangle 10 -10 – 14.14 illustrates factoring perfect squares and
moving decimal places.
Length of instruction period: 50 minutes
How many periods needed to implement lesson unit: 1 +
Grade Level(s) for use: all
Objectives:
1. Understand the relationship between the sides of a right triangle.
2. Identify the legs and hypotenuse.
3. Work with square and square root values.
4. Approximate square roots.
After years of teaching Calculus and Physics, common square values from 1 – 20 should
be known without a calculator. Students must be able to factor perfect squares and
estimate square roots.
Materials: SolidWorks, paper and pencil.
Procedures:
 Select the Front plane for sketch plane
 Sketch a horizontal line for the first leg of the triangle. Sketch a vertical line for
the second leg of the triangle. Sketch the hypotenuse.
 Insert a linear dimension for the legs.
 Right-click Select. Click the hypotenuse. The length is displayed in the status
bar. SolidWorks calculates the hypotenuse because it knows the measurement
of the two sides and the right angle.
 Enter 3 for the horizontal leg, 4 for the vertical leg. SolidWorks displays 5 for the
hypotenuse.
 Delete the dimension for the hypotenuse.
 Utilize perfect squares from 1 to 20 for the legs of the triangle.
 Guess the hypotenuse by determining the two closest perfect square values.
 Select the hypotenuse. The length is displayed in the Status Bar.
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Assessment: Try one side and the hypotenuse. Guess the other leg of the triangle.
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Resources Used: N/A
Copyrighted Materials: N/A
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