Weighing Instead of Calculating
How much weight do the proofs carry?
Solve mathematical problems with a balance scale instead of numbers. Equilibrium helps make relationships visible.
The Science Behind It
Here, the famous Pythagorean theorem becomes visible: in a right triangle, a² + b² = c². The areas of the shapes on the two shorter sides together equal the area of the shape on the longest side. In this exhibit, the relationship between areas is translated into weight: a larger area also means more mass here. The surprising thing is that it works not only with squares. Other shapes, such as stars or animals, also balance the scale as long as they are similar—that is, scaled versions of the same shape. The area matters, not the shape. A simple equation thus reveals a general principle: areas can look different, yet be exactly equal mathematically.
