What is Pythagoras?

• Pythagoras was a Greek mathematician who lived over 2500 years ago
• He is most famous for Pythagoras’ Theorem, which includes the important formula for right-angled triangles

Pythagoras' theorem?

• The longest side in a right-angled triangle is called the?hypotenuse?– this will always be the side opposite the right angle
• If we label the hypotenuse c, and label the other two sides a and b:

then Pythagoras’ Theorem tells us that:

a²?+ b²?= c²

(where a, b, and c are the lengths of the three sides) 

Using Pythagoras’ theorem

• To find the length of the?hypotenuse?use:c = √a²?+ b²

  (Note that when finding the hypotenuse you?add?inside the square root)

• To find the length of?one of the other sides?use: 

  a = √c²?– b²?or b = √c²?– a²Note that when finding one of the other sides you?subtract?inside the square root