Pythagorean Theorem

Definition

The Pythagorean Theorem states that in a right triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides.

Analogy

Imagine you have three friends who want to build a treehouse together. They need to make sure their ladder will reach from one side of their backyard (side A) diagonally across to where they want their treehouse (side B). To figure out if their ladder will be long enough, they can use the Pythagorean Theorem!

Related terms

Right Triangle: A right triangle is a triangle that has one angle measuring 90 degrees (a right angle).

Hypotenuse: The hypotenuse is always defined as being opposite from and directly connected by two legs forming one vertex.

Legs/Adjacent/Opposite Sides: In relation to an acute angle in a right triangle, the legs are the two sides that form the angle, while the adjacent and opposite sides are relative to that specific angle.