n the previous proof we may proceed a little differently. Complete a square on sides AB and AD of the two triangles. Its area is, on one hand, b² and, on the other,
b² = Area(ABMD)
= Area(AECD) + Area(CMD) + Area(BCE)
= c²/2 + b(b - a)/2 + a(b - a)/2
= c²/2 + b²/2 - a²/2,
which amounts to the same identity as before.
Douglas Rogers who observed the relationship between the proofs 46-49 also remarked that a square could have been drawn on the smaller legs of the two triangles if the second triangle is drawn in the "bottom" position as in proofs 46 and 47. In this case, we will again evaluate the area of the quadrilateral ABCD in two ways. With a reference to the second of the diagrams above,
c²/2 = Area(ABCD)
= Area(EBCG) + Area(CDG) + Area(AED)
= a² + a(b - a)/2 + b(b - a)/2
= a²/2 + b²/2,
as was desired.
He also pointed out that it is possible to think of one of the right triangles as sliding from its position in proof #46 to its position in proof #48 so that its short leg glides along the long leg of the other triangle. At any intermediate position there is present a quadrilateral with equal and perpendicular diagonals, so that for all positions it is possible to construct proofs analogous to the above. The triangle always remains inside a square of side b - the length of the long leg of the two triangles. Now, we can also imagine the triangle ABC slide inside that square. Which leads to a proof that directly generalizes #49 and includes configurations of proofs 46-48. See below.