Pythagorean theorem

What you'll learn

1. Apply the Pythagorean theorem (a^2 + b^2 = c^2) to find the hypotenuse or a leg of a right triangle
2. Identify the hypotenuse as the longest side, opposite the right angle, and correctly assign it as c in the formula
3. Recognize common Pythagorean triples (3-4-5, 5-12-13, 8-15-17, 7-24-25) and their scalar multiples to solve problems without full computation
4. Use the converse of the Pythagorean theorem to determine whether a triangle with given side lengths is right, acute, or obtuse
5. Solve ACT-style multi-step problems where the Pythagorean theorem is an intermediate step (e.g., finding a diagonal, a height, or a distance)

Prerequisites

• Classification by sides and angles