Pythagorean Theorem Pop Culture Text Set

There are many resources on the Pythagorean Theorem. There are many on the history and even more on the proof of the theorem. However I will be focusing, just like in my last visualization post, on the Pythagorean Theorem in popular culture.

Text #1 (print)

 Amazon Books: The History of Mathematics

Bibliography Information:

Burtun, David M. "The Pythagorean Problem." The History of Mathematics: An Introduction 7^th edition. New York: Mcgraw-Hill, 2011. N. pg 105. Print.

Summary:

In the section, The Pythagorean Problem, the book discussed the history of the Pythagorean Theorem and how the Babylonians knew the result for certain right triangle at least a millennium prior to Pythagoras. It also tells the reader that none of the various Greek writers who attributed the theorem to Pythagoras lived within five centuries of him. So the origins of the theorem is pretty lost in history, just like the legend that Pythagoras sacrificed 100 oxen to the Muses in gratification.

Text Complexity:

Quantitative Measures:

Reading Level	Grade Level
Flesch	18.1
Readability Index	21.2
Reading Ease	30.5/100
SMOG Index	17.1
Average Level	18.4

According to Storytoolz.com, The History of Mathematics: An Introduction is a college level reading. I agree with this. It’s actually a college text book. The language featured in the text is very complex. It is not an easy read. For example the opening sentence, "Although tradition is unanimous in ascribing the so-called Pythagorean theorem to the great teacher himself, we have seen that the Babylonians knew the result for certain specific triangles at least a millennium earlier." The language is very dry and unappealing. The text structure of the passage consists of long drawn out paragraphs discussing the history, with assumptions of prior knowledge, that lead into diagrams. This structure while moderately complex has a high knowledge demand. The text requires some knowledge of the theorem itself as well as knowledge of deciphering diagrams and graphs.

Purpose:

A purpose for using this text would be research. I would not use this text to introduce a topic. It is complex as well as uninteresting to most, except for maybe history or math buffs. I would use this text for research purposes, or to build on the history of Pythagoras and "his" so-called theorem.

Question for Students:

A question for students to consider when interacting with the text would be: how does this information on the history of theorem differ from your prior knowledge? Why do you think this is so?

Text #2 (print)

Bibliography Information:

O'Connor, J.J and E.F. Robertson. "Pythagoras's Theorem in Babylonian Mathematics." Babylonian Index History Topics. JOC/EFR, Dec. 2000. Web 21, July 2015.

Summary:

This article examines four Babylonian tablets that have connections to Pythagoras's Theorem. All four tablets discuss the common triples we know today, i.e. the 3,4,5 triangle.

 Text Complexity:                                  

Quantitative Measures:

Reading Level	Grade Level
Readability Index	11.3
Reading Ease	66.0/100
Average Level	11.4

According to storytoolz.com the grade level for this text is 11^th. I disagree. I think it’s a senior in high school or a college student. While the text is easier to read to read than the previous text, significantly smaller more common words. The knowledge demand is highly complex. The article goes into mathematical proofs of the Pythagorean Theorem based on the Babylonian tablets. So there is high math knowledge demand. The text structure is also complex. There are a lot of pictures and mathematical equations that may make the text structure more complex to read.

Purpose:

The purpose of this text would be also be research. I would use this text as an extra resource for investigating the Pythagorean Theorem and/or the Babylonians. This text would be useful to build background knowledge on either one of those topics.

Question for students:

Has this helped clarify the Theorem for you? Do you think the Babylonians came up with the theorem prior to Pythagoras?

Text #3 (print)

Wiki: Pythagorean_theorem

Bibliography Information:

Pythagorean Theorem Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation. Web. 21, July 2015.

Summary:

The Pythagorean Theorem Wikipedia page has the history of the as well as many proofs of the theorem. However I focused on the pop culture section. This section informed the reader of different points in history where the Pythagorean Theorem was integrated into pop culture. It tells us about a Hans Christian Anderson poem that has a verse about the theorem. It also tells us about the scene in The Wizard of Oz where the scarecrow states the theorem incorrectly. As well as a book released in 2008 about aliens whose space ship has the theorem written on it.

Text Complexity:

Reading Level	Grade Level
Readability Index	9.3
Reading Ease	57.6/100
SMOG Index	11.8
Average	10.9

According to Storytoolz.com the grade level for this theorem is 10^th. I do not agree with this. I’d say 7^th or 8th. Whenever students are introduced to the Pythagorean Theorem. The text structure is not very complex. In fact it’s a list, bullet pointed in order of history. The only prior knowledge really needed for this section of the page would be the Pythagorean Theorem itself. The language used in this section is very straight forward and to the point. I don’t see much complexity at all in the language used. It states the year, how the Pythagorean Theorem was used in popular culture and by whom.

Purpose:

I’d use this text as reading for background knowledge on the Pythagorean Theorem. It sheds a new light on such a stale subject. This text could be used for research as well, depending on the topic. I’d use this to summarize previously learned concepts

Questions for Students:

How have you seen either the Pythagorean Theorem or other math concepts in popular culture? Why do you think this theorem in particular has been integrated into main stream?

Text #4 (digital)

Bibliography Information:

Vi Hart. “What Was Up With Pythagoras?” YouTube. Standard YouTube License. 12, June 2012. Web. 21, July 2015.

Summary:

This text is a digital storytelling in the form of a YouTube video. The creator talks about the myths and legends of Pythagoras. How he may or may not have been a murder. How he hated beans. How he may have sacrificed oxen to the Gods. How he had a cult of Pythagoreans “the cool kids club.” Along with some proofs of the theorem and a timeline about numbers.

Text Complexity:

Reading Level	Grade Level
Readability Index	6.4
Reading Ease	79.4/100
SMOG Index	8.7
Average	7.5

I don’t agree with the above grade levels. I think its high school level. I’d say no earlier than 9^th grade. Not because it’s hard to understand; she does an amazing job on explaining everything thoroughly, but because of content. The story about Pythagoras that’s being told is about him possibly being a murder and have a cult of followers. I don’t think that’s appropriate for middle schoolers. With that being said the complexity of this text isn’t very demanding. You need moderately complex background knowledge; like who Pythagoras was and the theorem he came up with. Even though she does a good job explaining, without prior knowledge you’d pretty lost, especially with how fast she runs through the information. The text structure is very complex. She quickly goes through the information, demonstrating the concepts through drawing. However you have to pay close attention if this is your first time being exposed to this information. The language features aren’t very complex. She’s easy to follow, as long as you can keep up. She doesn’t use excruciatingly big words. She definitely brakes it down to a more common level.

Purpose:

I’d say this is informational. I’d use this to build on previous knowledge of Pythagoras and his theorem. I would not use this as introductory text. I’d use this as a fresh look at the Pythagorean Theorem and its founder. I’d also use this to motivate interest. She did an amazing job on making the subject interesting and leaving the audience wanting to know more.

Question for Students:

How does this change your understanding of Pythagoras? Can you make your own digital storytelling video on a subject?

Text #5 (digital)

Bibliography Information: 

MathWizard1. “Scarecrow Doesn’t Get a Brain After All.” YouTube. Standard YouTube License. 21, Nov. 2007. Web. 21, July 2015.

Summary:

This is a clip of the movie The Wizard of Oz (1939). In this scene the wizard gives the scarecrow a diploma and the scarecrow “magically” gets a brain. However the scarecrow says, “The sum of the square roots of any two sides of an isosceles triangle is equal to the square root of the remaining side, oh joy, oh rapture, I’ve got a brain.”  This is an incorrect attempt at repeating the Pythagorean Theorem.

Text Complexity:

Reading Level	Grade Level
Readability Index	3.6
Reading Ease	85.6/100
SMOG Index	7.9
Average	5.7

I do not agree with the above. The language featured in this clip is very complex. You would need background knowledge on isosceles triangles, but the wizard states, “Therefore, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Universitatus Committeeatum e plurbis unum, I hereby confer upon you the honorary degree of Th.D.” (http://wendyswizardofoz.com/printablescript.htm) I don’t even know what plurbis unum is. I would say that the level of this text would be 10^th grade.

Purpose:

The purpose of this clip would be informational, or critiquing. I’d use this to demonstrate misconception of theorem. As well as to motivate interest if I were to show the entire movie.  

Questions for Students:

What misconceptions have you had or heard about the theorem? Would have caught this mistake or recognized it at the Pythagorean Theorem if it were not pointed out?

Text #6 (Culturally relevant ~ digital)

Bibliography Information:

The Best Pythagorean Theorem Rap Ever. Prod. Jake “2pi” Scott. By Ernesto Lara. Perf. Jake “2pi" Scott. YouTube. Standard YouTube License. 24, Aug. 2012. Web. 21, July 2015.

Summary:

The music video is about the Pythagorean Theorem. He tells his audience how to use the theorem through his lyrics. This culturally relevant because in the video he shows how to use the theorem in a classroom and is an African American gentleman.

Text Complexity:

Reading Level	Grade Level
Readability Index	1.6
Reading Ease	92.6/100
SMOG Index	6.9
Average	4.2

I do not agree with the above. I’d say 8^th grade is the right level for this video. While he’s easy to understand and brakes everything down, the content is a higher level. You’d already need to know of the Pythagorean Theorem to get the most out of this music video. The structure isn’t every complex. The rap isn’t very fast, it’s very smooth and informative. It goes slow enough to understand what’s going on without going too slow where it’s boring.

Purpose:

The purpose of this video would be to reinforce the concept. I’d use this after introducing the Pythagorean Theorem to generate interest as well as to give another perspective on the theorem. This video could possibly help kids who are struggling to understand the concept.

Question for Students:

I’d ask my students to come up with their own song for different math concepts, in order to shed new light on old ideas. I’d also ask them; how they think this would help someone struggling to understand the theorem?