How does Pythagoras Theorem work?

The Pythagoras Theorem only works with right-angled triangles. If you see a triangle other than right-angled triangles, then you do not need to apply the Pythagoras Theorem. The right-angled triangle has three sides, as with all triangles, and they are all labelled. One side is known as the hypotenuse (the longest side). The other two are known as the adjacent and the opposite. These two labels are determined by where the angle is but this is irrelevant when determining the length of a side using Pythagoras Theoream. The equation for the Pythagoras Theorem is a(squared)=b(squared)+c(squared). The a is the length of the hypotenuse. So you can find the length of the hypotenuse squared by squaring and adding the length of both the adjacent and opposite sides of the right-angled triangle. And to find the opposite or the adjacent length, you just rearrange and this is quite simple. 

KH
Answered by Kamran H. Maths tutor

8329 Views

See similar Maths GCSE tutors

Related Maths GCSE answers

All answers ▸

There are 30 kg of potatoes in a wheelbarrow. A farmer adds some carrots into the wheelbarrow. The total weight of the wheelbarrow now is 110 pounds. What weight of carrots did the farmer put into the wheelbarrow? 1 kg = 2.2 pounds


x^2 +y^2 =25, y – 3x = 13 - Simultaneous Equations (June 2017)


The value of a new car is £18,000. The value of the car decreases by 25% in the first year and 12% in each of the next 4 years. Work out the value of the car after 5 years?


Solve the simultaneous equations to find x and y: 3x + 5y = 10 , 5x + 4y = 8


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning