Pythagorean theorem formula

Pythagoras' Theorem


Pythagoras

 

Over years ago there was an amazing discovery about triangles:

When a triangle has a right angle (90°)

and squares are made on each of the three sides,

geometry/images/

then the biggest square has the exact same area as the other two squares put together!


It is called "Pythagoras' Theorem" and can be written in one short equation:

a2 + b2 = c2

Note:

  • c is the longest side of the triangle
  • a and b are the other two sides

Definition

The longest side of the triangle is called the "hypotenuse", so the formal definition is:

In a right angled triangle:
the square of the hypotenuse is equal to
the sum of the squares of the other two sides.

Sure ?

Let's see if it really works using an example.

Example: A "3, 4, 5" triangle has a right angle in it.


Let's check if the areas are the same:

32 + 42 = 52

Calculating this becomes:

9 + 16 = 25

It works like Magic!

Why Is This Useful?

If we know the lengths of two sides of a right angled triangle, we can find the length of the third side. (But remember it only works on right angled triangles!)

How Do I Use it?

Write it down as an equation:

 a2 + b2 = c2


Then we use algebra to find any missing value, as in these examples:

Example: Solve this triangle

Start with:a2 + b2 = c2

Put in what we know:52 + 122 = c2

Calculate squares + = c2

25+= = c2

Swap sides:c2 =

Square root of both sides:c = √

Calculate:c = 13

Read Builder's Mathematics to see practical uses for this.

Also read about Squares and Square Roots to find out why √ = 13

Example: Solve this triangle.

Start with:a2 + b2 = c2

Put in what we know:92 + b2 = 152

Calculate squares + b2 =

Take 81 from both sides: 81 − 81 + b2 = − 81

Calculate: b2 =

Square root of both sides:b = √

Calculate:b = 12

Example: What is the diagonal distance across a square of size 1?

Start with:a2 + b2 = c2

Put in what we know:12 + 12 = c2

Calculate squares:1 + 1 = c2

1+1=2: 2 = c2

Swap sides: c2 = 2

Square root of both sides:c = √2

Which is about:c =


It works the other way around, too: when the three sides of a triangle make a2 + b2 = c2, then the triangle is right angled.

Example: Does this triangle have a Right Angle?

Does a2 + b2 = c2 ?

  • a2 + b2 = 102 + 242 = + =
  • c2 = 262 =

They are equal, so

Yes, it does have a Right Angle!

Example: Does an 8, 15, 16 triangle have a Right Angle?

Does 82 + 152 = 162 ?

  • 82 + 152 = 64 + = ,
  • but 162 =

So, NO, it does not have a Right Angle

Example: Does this triangle have a Right Angle?

Does a2 + b2 = c2 ?

Does (√3)2 + (√5)2 = (√8)2 ?

Does 3 + 5 = 8 ?

Yes, it does!

So this is a right-angled triangle

And You Can Prove The Theorem Yourself !

Get paper pen and scissors, then using the following animation as a guide:

  • Draw a right angled triangle on the paper, leaving plenty of space.
  • Draw a square along the hypotenuse (the longest side)
  • Draw the same sized square on the other side of the hypotenuse
  • Draw lines as shown on the animation, like this:
  • Cut out the shapes
  • Arrange them so that you can prove that the big square has the same area as the two squares on the other sides

Another, Amazingly Simple, Proof

Here is one of the oldest proofs that the square on the long side has the same area as the other squares.

Watch the animation, and pay attention when the triangles start sliding around.

You may want to watch the animation a few times to understand what is happening.

The purple triangle is the important one.

 becomes 

 

We also have a proof by adding up the areas.

Historical Note: while we call it Pythagoras' Theorem, it was also known by Indian, Greek, Chinese and Babylonian mathematicians well before he lived.

 

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