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Pythagoras' Theorem
In a right triangle, the square of the
hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.
Try this Drag the orange dots on each vertex
of the right triangle below. The formula showing the calculation of Pythagoras' Theorem will change accordingly.
(If there is no image below, see support page.)
Although Pythagoras' name is attached to this theorem, it was actually known centuries before his time by the Babylonians. There are many proofs of this theorem, some graphical in nature and others using algebra. See A graphical proof of Pythagoras' Theorem for one such proof. On the web site "cut-the-knot", the author collects proofs of Pythagoras Theorem, and as of this writing has listed over 70, but hundreds are actually known. Solving the right triangle
The term "solving the triangle" means that if we start with a right triangle and know any two sides, we can find, or 'solve for', the unknown side.
This involves a simple re-arrangement of the Pythagoras Theorem formula to put the unknown on the left side of the equation.
Find the hypotenuse
If we know the two legs of a right triangle we can solve for the hypotenuse using the formula:
where a and b are the lengths of the two legs of the triangle, and h is the hypotenuse. Find a leg
If we know the hypotenuse and one leg, we can find the other leg using the formula:
where a is the leg we wish to find b is the known leg h is the hypotenuse. The Converse of Pythagoras' Theorem
The converse of this theorem is also true. That is, if a triangle satisfies Pythagoras' theorem, then it is a right triangle.
Put another way, only right triangles will satisfy the theorem.
Related triangle topicsGeneral
Triangle types
Triangle centersCongruence and SimilarityTriangle quizzes and exercises
(C) 2007 Copyright John Page
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