Simplifying Radicals and the Pythagorean Theorem

Let's check out how it works!

Check out this second way to look at it.

​Watch as the water in the two smaller squares exactly fills the largest square...

they must be equal!

We shorten that by calling the sides a, b and c, and using the formula a² + b² = c² .

The legs ( "a" and "b") are always the two shorter sides.

The hypotenuse ("c") is always the longest side and across from the right angle.

• If we know two of the three lengths of a right triangle, we can find the missing side length

• If we know all three sides of a triangle, we can prove if it is a right triangle

Get some paper to work on....

like your spiral notebook!

When you have your answer, move to the next slide.

When you have your answer, move to the next slide.

But you also said I could prove it was a right triangle if I know all the sides...

So scaling up a known Pythagorean Triple can give you infinite possibilities for more of them.

Helpful Hint: Draw a picture!