University of Tartu student Karl-Robert Mõttus proved the Pythagorean theorem using origami. He folded paper and showed that the areas of triangles are related. This has been done many times before, but his method is special.
Mõttus used two similar triangles. He showed that the sum of their areas equals the area of the larger triangle. His method is simple and elegant. He did not cut the paper or use complex calculations.
His supervisor Tiina Kraav said that this is a very good solution. Previous proofs were more complicated. Origami can be used to do many things. It is used in mathematics, engineering, and science.
Mõttus thought that origami makes it easy to explain the theorem. School students can try it and understand. Origami is an interesting way to learn mathematics.