What is the Pythagorean Theorem?

Thousands of years ago, a Greek philosopher named Pythagoras discovered a formula to help us solve the lengths of a right triangle. It’s called the Pythagorean theorem — let’s learn more!

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Author
Lucy Hart

Last Updated
July 12, 2023

What is the Pythagorean theorem?

Thousands of years ago, a Greek philosopher named Pythagoras discovered a formula to help us solve the lengths of a right triangle. It’s called the Pythagorean theorem — let’s learn more!

The Doodle Star; a yellow star with two white eyes and a smiling white mouth

Author
Lucy Hart

Last Updated
July 12, 2023

What is the Pythagorean theorem?

Thousands of years ago, a Greek philosopher named Pythagoras discovered a formula to help us solve the lengths of a right triangle. It’s called the Pythagorean theorem — let’s learn more!

The Doodle Star; a yellow star with two white eyes and a smiling white mouth

Author
Lucy Hart

Last Updated
July 12, 2023

Key takeaways

  • The Pythagorean theorem formula is a² + b² = c².
  • It only works for right triangles.
  • To solve the Pythagorean theorem, we need to know the lengths of at least two sides of a right triangle.
  • The Pythagorean theorem formula can be used to find the length of the shorter sides of a right triangle or the longest side, called the hypotenuse.

Over 2,000 years ago, a Greek philosopher called Pythagoras created a very famous theorem about triangles. It lets you work out the length of any side in a right-angled triangle!

What is the Pythagorean theorem?

a graphic of colorful right triangles

The Pythagorean theorem states:

“In a right-angled triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the two shorter sides.”

This may sound a bit complicated, but it makes a lot more sense when we look at what it’s saying in the form of a picture:

graphic demonstrating the pythagorean theorem with a right triangle

When squares are drawn along each side in a right triangle, the total area of the two smaller squares (those along the shortest sides, a and b) is the same as the area of the largest square (the square along the longest side, c).

By working out the area of each square, we can find the length of any side in a right triangle. And luckily, Pythagoras created a handy formula to help us do this!

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Pythagorean theorem formula

The formula for Pythagoras’ theorem is a² + b² = c².

a graphic of the pythagorean theorem formula: a squared + b squared = c squared

In this equation, “C” represents the longest side of a right triangle, called the hypotenuse. “A” and “B” represent the other two sides of the triangle.

An orange right-angled triangle showing Pythagores' theorem, with the letters a, b and c on the three sides of the triangle

To use the Pythagorean theorem formula, we need to know the length of any two sides in a right triangle. We can then rearrange the formula to find the side we’re looking for.

So, if we take the formula:

a² + b² = c²

We can rearrange it to help us find the length we’re missing:

  • To find the length of Side A: a² = c² – b²
  • To find the length of Side B: b² = c² – a²
  • To find the length of Side C: c² = a² + b²

This may sound complicated, but don’t worry! It’s easy to use once you know how. Let’s take a look at some examples.

How to use the Pythagorean theorem

Now that we know the Pythagorean theorem formula is, let’s talk about what we can use it for. The Pythagorean theorem can be used to solve for the hypotenuse or the shorter sides of a right triangle.

Finding the hypotenuse of a triangle

If we don’t know the length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle (aka the longest side), we can work it out using Pythagoras’ theorem. The hypotenuse is represented by c in the Pythagorean theorem formula: a² + b² = c². By plugging in the given values of Side A and Side B, we can solve for the hypotenuse — Side C!

Let’s try an example!

Looking at the picture below, solve for Side C.

a pink right triangle demonstrating how to solve for the hypotenuse using the pythagorean theorem

To start, we can flip the Pythagorean theorem equation to make it easier to read:

a² + b² = c² becomes c² = a² + b²

Next, plug the values of Side A and Side B into the equation since they are given. Side A = 4cm and Side B = 3cm. This gives us:

c² = 4² + 3²

Square Sides A and B to get:

c² = 16 + 9

Add 16 and 9 solve for a²:

c² = 25

Now we’re in the final stretch. We just need to find the square root of 25 to find the length of the hypotenuse (Side C)!

c² = √25

Therefore, the length of Side C = 5cm.

Finding the short side of a right triangle

We can also use Pythagoras’ theorem when we don’t know the length of one of the shorter sides of a right triangle.

We can rearrange the formula to help us find the side we don’t know. For example:

  • If we don’t know Side A: a² = c² – b²
  • If we don’t know Side B: b² = c² – a² 

Let’s practice! In the example below, solve for Side A.

a green right triangle demonstrating how to solve for the shorter side of the triangle using the pythagorean theorem

To work out the length of Side A, start by rearranging the formula to become:

a² = c² – b²

Next, plug in the values of Side C and Side B. (Remember: Side C is the hypotenuse!)

a² = 5² – 3²

Square Sides B and C to get:

a² = 25 – 9

Subtract 9 from 25 to solve for a²:

a² = 16

Now we’re nearly there! If we find the square root of 16, we’ll have our answer.

a = √16

Therefore, Side A = 4cm.

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Pythagorean theorem examples

Ready to look at some more examples or have a go at using the theorem yourself? Take a look at the following practice problems with answers that follow!

1. Find the length of b

a blue right triangle demonstrating how to solve for the shorter side of the triangle using the pythagorean theorem

2. Find the length of C

a purple right triangle demonstrating how to solve for the hypotenuse using the pythagorean theorem

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Answer Sheet

Question 1

Answer: 6cm

  1. Rearrange the formula to b² = c² – a²
  2. Plug in the values of Side C and Side A to get b² = 10² – 8²
  3. Square Sides A and C to get b² = 100 – 64
  4. Subtract 64 from 100 to get b² = 36
  5. Find the square root of b = √ 36 to solve for b

Therefore, b = 6cm.

Question 2

Answer: 10cm

  1. Flip the Pythagorean theorem formula to get c² = a² + b²
  2. Plug in the values of Side A and B to get = 8² + 6²
  3. Square Sides A and C to get c² = 64 + 36
  4. Add 64 and 36 to get c² = 100
  5. Find the square root of c = √ 100 to solve for c

Therefore, c = 10cm.

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