The Pythagorean theorem states that a squared + b squared = c squared. so what does this mean exactly? First you have to know about right triangles. A right triangle is a triangle comprised of one 90 degrees right angle and two other angles that add up to 90 degrees, meaning that the whole triangle adds up to 180 degrees. The longest side of a right triangle is known as the hypotenuse. In the Pythagorean Theorem, you use the two sides that are not the hypotenuse (a and b), square them (multiply them by themselves, add them together and find the radical (square root of the sum). So let's try this out. If a=5 and b=2 what does c equal? Well first square a and b, so a=25 and b=4, then add them and get 29. Finally find the square root of 29 which is about 5.38516480713. This is equal to the hypotenuse. If you found this helpful/ interesting or if you have a request for what do you want me to post next about math then leave a comment. Also if you need more help and want me to post a second thread on this also leave a comment.
Extra challenge problem: a= 6*5-2, and b=3-5*4+17. c=?
If you saw the answer be honest when posting your answer and post the first answer you got.
Answer:29.4108, rounded to the nearest ten thousandth.[/size]

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The Pythagorean theorem really is helpful, I though it can only be used in trigonometry, but was kind of surprised that we still used it in geometry and calculus... so, thanks for sharing your knowledge about it...

there is a really useful trick you can use for the Pythagorean theorem. If A is a multiple of three, B a multiple of four, than the hypotenuse (C) must be the corresponding multiple of five

The pythagorean theorem can only be used in right triangle cases. if there is a right triangle, then it can be used. If not, then it cannot