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21 views3 pages

Project 2

Uploaded by

negin rahmani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PROJ-MA-0204: Pythagorean spiral

Inquiry Question
Can I use my trigonometry skills to construct a Pythagorean Spiral

Name: ___________________________ Date: ____________

General Instructions
Read the explanation of a Pythagorean Spiral below. Follow the directions and create your
spiral.

Project submission:
• Submit your work page and your spiral.

2024-09-12 Page 1 of 3
PROJ-MA-0204: Pythagorean spiral

A Pythagorean Spiral is a series of right triangles arranged in a spiral configuration so that the
hypotenuse of one right triangle is the long leg of the next right triangle. The short leg of each
triangle is exactly the same length. In this project, you will use the Pythagorean Theorem to find
the lengths of each hypotenuse, and then you will use Trigonometry to solve for each of the
interior angles. You will need to create 17 triangles to make up one revolution of the spiral.
Finally, you will decorate your spiral in a unique and creative way.

How to Construct the Pythagorean Spiral:

Step 1: Find your starting point.

Place the paper in landscape orientation. From the top,


left corner, measure 20 centimeters to the right, and 10
centimeters down. Make a point there. This will be the
vertex of the right angle in your first triangle.

Step 2: Place your first triangle.

From your starting point, measure up 4 cm, and to the


left 4 cm. Those are the legs of your first triangle.
Connect the ends of those 4 cm lines to complete the
triangle.

Step 3: Calculate the length of the hypotenuse, and degree of


theta.

Use the Pythagorean Theorem to calculate the length of the hypotenuse. Use
Trigonometry to calculate the degree measure of the left-most angle of the triangle. Fill
in the table on the next page.

Step 4: Repeat the steps to draw the next 16 triangles.

Draw a right angle from the top angle of the first triangle, and make that line 4 cm long.
Connect that line back to the center of the Spiral. Repeat your calculations on the
second triangle. Do the same thing over and over again until you have completed your
Spiral, with 17 total triangles.

2024-09-12 Page 2 of 3
PROJ-MA-0204: Pythagorean spiral

Pythagorean Spiral Calculations

Triangle Short Leg Long Leg Hypotenuse Interior Angle

1 4 cm 4 cm 5.66 cm 450

2 4 cm 5.66 cm

3 4 cm

4 4 cm

5 4 cm

6 4 cm

7 4 cm

8 4 cm

9 4 cm

10 4 cm

11 4 cm

12 4 cm

13 4 cm

14 4 cm

15 4 cm

16 4 cm

17 4 cm

2024-09-12 Page 3 of 3

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