Pythagorean Theorem
5-5-2
Right Triangle
• 90 degree angle
• Two short sides called legs
• One longer side called HYPOTENUSE
See for yourself
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Cut out four identical right triangles
Label hypotenuse c
Label one leg a
Label the other leg b on all triangles
See for yourself
• Arrange them
See for yourself
• Trace and cut out the large square in a
different color.
• The red that shows through has an area c2
See for yourself
• Move the triangles as shown
• Now the red that shows through is a2 +b2
a2+b2=c2
• This works for all right triangles.
• What part of the demonstration used the
fact that we are dealing with right
triangles?
• A triangle with legs 40 in. and 42 in. would
have what measurement for the
hypotenuse?
a2+b2=c2
• What is the measurement of a leg of a
right triangle if one leg is 30 ft and the
hypotenuse is 34 ft?