How to Find the Hypotenuse of a Triangle?
The hypotenuse is the longest side of a right-angled triangle and lies opposite the 90-degree angle. A right-angled triangle has three sides, one of which forms a right angle.
To find the length of the hypotenuse, we can use the Pythagorean theorem. This theorem states that the square of the hypotenuse (c) is equal to the sum of squares from the other two sides (a and b).
Hypotenuse Formula
c = √(a² + b²)
Here, c is the hypotenuse, while a and b are the sides that form the right angle. For example, if a = 3 and b = 4, then the hypotenuse c is 5.
This formula is only applicable to right-angled triangles, so make sure you identify which sides meet at the 90-degree angle before applying it.
The Pythagorean theorem is used in fields like architecture, construction, navigation, and physics. Understanding how to calculate the hypotenuse helps with tasks like determining distances, planning building layouts, and solving geometry problems.