Pythagorean Theorem

Definition

The Pythagorean Theorem is a mathematical principle that relates the lengths of the sides in a right triangle. It states that the square of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.

Analogy

Imagine you have a rectangular field with one side measuring 3 units and another side measuring 4 units. If you want to know how long it would take to walk diagonally across the field from one corner to another, you can use the Pythagorean Theorem. It's like finding out how far you need to walk if you take shortcuts through fields instead of walking along straight paths.

Related terms

Right Triangle: A triangle that has one angle measuring 90 degrees.

Hypotenuse: The longest side in a right triangle, which is opposite to the right angle.

Legs: The two shorter sides in a right triangle that are adjacent to the right angle.