Can you explain the Pythagorean theorem?

Can you explain the Pythagorean theorem?

Sure! The Pythagorean theorem states that in a right triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides. It's usually written as a² + b² = c².

What do the letters a, b, and c represent?

In the equation a² + b² = c², 'a' and 'b' represent the lengths of the two legs of the triangle, while 'c' represents the length of the hypotenuse.

Can you give me an example using numbers?

Of course! If one leg is 3 units and the other leg is 4 units, you can calculate the hypotenuse like this: 3² + 4² = c², which means 9 + 16 = c², so c² = 25, and c = 5.

What if I have a triangle with sides 5 and 12?

Using the same theorem, you would calculate: 5² + 12² = c², which is 25 + 144 = c², so c² = 169, and c = 13.