Pythagorean Theorem

Right Triangles

• What are the parts of a right triangle?

hypotenus

e

leg

leg

Right Triangles

• What are the parts of a right triangle?

Square Activity

• Draw a right triangle with sides of 3 and 4 units• Draw a square using each side as a base• What is the area of the first square?• What is the area of the second square?

3

4

• What is the area of the third square?

3

4

?

The Pythagorean theorem states that in a right triangle, the sum of the squares of the lengths of the legs is equal to the square of the length of the hypotenuse.

Pythagorean Theorem

a2 + b2 = c2

• c is the length of the hypotenuse

• a and b are the lengths of the legs

a2

b2

ab

c

Square Activity• Draw a right triangle with sides of 4 and 4 units• Draw a square using each side as a base• What is the area of the first square?• What is the area of the second square?

4

4

A = 4B = 3Find cHint: use a2 + b2 = c2

Example:Find the missing length.

a = 18, b = 24

c

c

c

c

c

cba

30

900

900

576324

2418

2

2

2

222

222

Why is this important?