The Pythagorean Theorem

Right-angled triangle and the Pythagorean theorem

In this article lets try to develop the Pythagorean theorem by means of the right angle.

So first let’s get some proper ideas about the right-angled triangle.

What is a right-angled triangle?

If an angle of a triangle is 90o it is called a right-angled triangle or right triangle.

right triangle

Special Right Triangles

Classification of right triangles according to their sides

special right triangles

Classification of right triangles according to their Angles

Other than the above two types of right-angled triangles there are two main right-angled triangles that you always search for.

30 60 90 Triangle

30 60 90 triangle

This is actually a Scalene Right Angled Triangle.

45 45 90 Triangle

45 45 90 triangle

This is an Isosceles triangle.

Terms Related to Right Angled Triangle

hypotenuse

The side which is opposite to the right angle and which is the longest side of the triangle is called Hypotenuse.

perpendicular

BC = Hypotenuse
AB / AC = Base
AB / AC = Perpendicular

The sides AB and AC are also called the sides which include the right angle.

The Pythagorean Theorem

This is also called as Pythagoras’ theorem or Pythagorean relationship. This is a fundamental relation in euclidean geometry.

There are several methods to prove the Pythagorean theorem. In this article, I’m going to discuss two methods.

The Pythagorean Theorem Proof – Method 01

Let’s build the proof through an example.

Draw a right-angled triangle ABC where AB = 4 cm, AC = 3 cm and BC = 5 cm

pythagorean triples
pythagoras theorem proof

By looking at the figure we can see that,

Area of the square on BC = Area of the square on AB + Area of the square on AC

25 = 16 + 9
= 25

Accordingly

pythagoras theorem proof

Area of the square drawn on PQ = a2
Area of the square drawn on PR = b2
Area of the square drawn on QR = c2

Therefore,

c2 = a2 + b2

This is called the Pythagorean theorem.

The Pythagorean Theorem Proof – Method 02

The figure to the proper indicates one among the various known proofs of this fundamental result. Indeed, the area of the “big” square is (a + b)2 and can be decomposed into the area of the smaller square plus the areas of the four congruent triangles.

Pythagorean Theorem

That is,

(a + b)2 = c2 + 2ab

which immediately reduces to a2 + b2 = c2

Pythagorean Triples

Pythagorean Triples are three positive integer values which satisfy the Pythagoras theorem c2 = a2 + b2

Below table includes few Pythagorean triples examples.

Pythagorean Triples
a2b2c2
345
6810
72425
51213
202129
81517
2099101
485573
17144145
94041
116061
123537
138485
166365
284553
335665
367785
398089
485573
657297

Pythagorean Theorem Calculator

pythagorean theorem calculator

Exercises:

01.

Pythagorean Theorem exercise 1

Prove Euclid’s Theorem for Proportional Segments, i.e., given the right triangle ΔABC as indicated, then
h2 = pq, a2 = pc, b2 = qc

02. Prove that the sum of the interior angles of a quadrilateral ABCD is 360.

03.

excercise 2

In the diagram to the right, ΔABC is a right triangle, segments [AB] and [AF] are perpendicular and equal in length, and [EF] is perpendicular to [CE]. Set a = BC, b = AB, c = AB, and deduce President Garfield’s proof* of the Pythagorean theorem by computing the area of the trapezoid BCEF.


*James Abram Garfield (1831–1881) published this proof in 1876 in the Journal of Education (Volume 3 Issue 161). While a member of the House of Representatives. He was assassinated in 1881 by Charles Julius Guiteau. As an aside, notice that Garfield’s diagram also provides a simple proof of the fact that perpendicular lines in the planes have slopes which are negative reciprocals.

Related lessons: Trigonometric Identities

FAQ about Pythagorean Theorem

What is the formula of Pythagoras?

The theorem, also referred to as the Pythagorean theorem, states that the square of the length of the hypotenuse is adequate to the sum of squares of the lengths of the opposite two sides of the right triangle.
Hypotenuse2  =  Perpendicular2 + Base2 

What is meant by Pythagoras Theorem?

The Pythagoras theorem also referred to as Pythagorean theorem is employed to seek out the sides of a right angled triangle. This theorem is usually utilized in Trigonometry, where we use trigonometric ratios like sine, cos, tan to seek out the length of the edges of the right triangle

3 thoughts on “The Pythagorean Theorem”

  1. Pingback: Trigonometric Identities with PDF Download | Math Tutor

  2. Pingback: Similarity | Learn Triangle Geometry | Math Tutor Lessons

  3. I find very useful also the Reciprocal Pythagorean theorem. (The one that says if, in a triangle, the sum of the squares of two sides equals the square of the other side => the triangle is right-angled,

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