The+Pythagorean+Theorem

The Pythagorean Theorem is: For a right triangle with legs //a// and //b// and hypotenuse //c,//

** Note to teachers: students must already have knowledge of right triangles; students should be able to identify the legs and the hypotenuse of a right triangle; students should know how to square a number and take the square root of a number to solve certain equations involving the Pythagorean Theorem.  If you are a student, you may be thinking "Great, another formula. But how can I use this equation to solve a problem?" Well you are in luck!!

First, we will solve a problem where the hypotenuse of the right triangle is missing: a = 3 b = 4 c = ? a 2 + b 2 = c 2 3 2 + 4 2 = c 2 9 + 16 = c 2  25 = c 2 Now take the square root of both sides: 5 = c You can check it to be sure: 3 2 + 4 2 = 5 2 <span style="color: #137272; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">25 = 25

<span style="color: #137272; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">Check this out!

<span style="color: #137272; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">3, 4, and 5 is the smallest Pythagorean Triple!

<span style="color: #137272; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">Now let's solve a problem where the leg of the right triangle is missing: <span style="color: #137272; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">a = 5 b = ? c= 13 <span style="color: #137272; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">a 2 + b 2 = c 2 <span style="color: #137272; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">5 2 + b 2 =13 2 <span style="color: #137272; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;"> <span style="color: #137272; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">25 + b 2 = 169 <span style="color: #137272; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;"> <span style="color: #137272; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">b 2 = 144 <span style="color: #137272; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">Now take the square root of both sides: <span style="color: #137272; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">b = 12 <span style="color: #137272; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">You can check it to be sure: <span style="color: #137272; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">5 2 + 12 2 = 13 2 <span style="color: #137272; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">25 + 144 = 169

**<span style="color: #137272; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">Guess what?! ** <span style="color: #137272; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">5, 12, 13 is another Pythagorean Triple!

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">**Some helpful locations:**
 * <span style="color: #137272; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">I'm sure you want to practice some problems on your own now, right? Well, then [|try some]!!!
 * <span style="color: #137272; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">And now you may be thinking, "I understand how to PLUG N CHUG, but where am I going to use this in real life? I mean COME ON!"
 * <span style="color: #137272; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">Want to go back to home?