Pythagorean Theorem in the Real World – Meow!
This math infographic features the Pythagorean Theorem and an application to a real world problem – finding the height of a tree that a cat is stuck in. This design addresses the general characteristics of my targeted learners – graduate pre-service or in-service teachers enrolled in an Intervention Specialists (IS) program and currently taking a required Math content course. The IS teachers at this institution are by majority female, Caucasian, from a suburban, middle-level SES. Academically, they hold a minimum 2.7 cumulative GPA and basic Mathematics background (many have not taken Calculus). Most have little confidence and small enthusiasm towards mathematics as a subject, sharing notions that they are “not good in math.”
The infographic features two main learning objectives – identifying and applying the Pythagorean Theorem. The right triangle with labeled legs and a hypotenuse helps students understand how to identify the a, b, and c values. The middle section demonstrates step-by-step how to use the theorem to solve for an unknown side length. The image of the tree on the right side helps students connect and apply the Pythagorean Theorem in a real-world problem.
