Pythagoras and the Ratios: A Math Adventure

In the thrilling sequel to "Whats Your Angle, Pythagoras", Julie Ellis and  Phyllis Hornung Peacock are at it again in "Pythagoras and the Ratios: A Math Adventure". Never have I ever been enthralled in a way similar than I was reading this fine novel. Pythagoras and his cousins want to win a music contest, but first they must figure out how to play their instruments in tune.  While trying to fix the problem, Pythagoras makes an important discovery, notes that sound pleasant together have a certain mathematical relationship!! When Pythagoras applies this ratio to his cousins' pipes and lyres, the result is the best music ever made. It is an amazing story of an amazing kid making a profound discovery and teaching us about math. 

The book demonstrates what the Pythagorean theorem is, that a2 + b2 = c2 in any right triangle. Using this formula, one can solve for any of the sides in any triangle. In the same way that the pipes and lyres on the instruments must have a certain mathematical relationship, the sides on a right triangle also depend upon one another and can be expressed through the Pythagorean theorem. 

If it were not for literature, some kids might have a tough time understanding the Pythagorean theorem (or adults). Literature serves as an important and necessary way of helping people learn complex topics through expressing it in a different medium. If every single theorem or fact I learned was purely through textbook definitions, I would not have a firm or long lasting grasp of it. However, whenever I think of the Pythagorean theorem, I now think of young Pythagoras and his cousins trying to win a music competition.