The Pythagorean theorem states that in a right triangle: aΒ² + bΒ² = cΒ², where c is the hypotenuse (the longest side, opposite the right angle) and a and b are the other two sides.
Example
A right triangle has legs of 3 and 4. Hypotenuse = β(3Β² + 4Β²) = β(9 + 16) = β25 = 5.
Applications
- Measuring diagonal distances
- Construction and carpentry (the 3-4-5 rule for square corners)
- Navigation and GPS calculations
- Computer graphics and game development