7-12_Math

Eric Lafaele

Purpose: To find the hypotenuse (longest side) of a right triangle (triangle that has a right angle). In the diagram below, side C is the hypotenuse since it is across from the right angle.
 * The Pythagorean Theorem**
 * Steps to solve the equation**

1. Take the numbers that correlate with the sides and plug them into the equation. //Example: If side **a** is 3 and side **b** is 4, you equation would look like: 3²+4²= c²// //2.// Simplify the equation by evaluating the numbers. //Example: 9+16=c²// 3. We now know that //c²//=25 because 9+16=25. 4. Find the value of c is by taking the square root of 25. 5. The square root of 25=5. Thus, the sides of the triangle are 3,4 and 5. 6. Check your math to make sure the solution is correct by substituting numbers. //Example: 3²+4²=5²-9+16=25.// **True** //This is the correct solution.//