How to find the hypotenuse of a triangle

Have you ever found yourself staring at a right triangle, uncertain about how to find the length of the hypotenuse? Maybe you’re tackling a geometry homework problem, trying to help your child with their math assignment, or even working on a DIY project that requires precise measurements. Whatever the case, understanding how to calculate the hypotenuse isn’t just a skill for the classroom–it’s a practical application in various real-life situations. In this post, we’ll break down the steps to finding the hypotenuse so you can confidently tackle any right triangle you encounter.

The hypotenuse of a right triangle can be found using the Pythagorean theorem, which states that a² + b² = c², where a and b are the lengths of the two legs, and c is the length of the hypotenuse.

To find the hypotenuse of a right triangle, you’ll want to use the Pythagorean theorem. This theorem applies specifically to right triangles and establishes a relationship between the lengths of the sides. Begin by identifying the two legs of the triangle, typically referred to as ‘a’ and ‘b’. Measure the lengths of these two sides accurately. Once you have these measurements, square each value: this means multiplying each length by itself.

Next, add the two squared values together: a² + b². The result you obtain from this calculation represents the square of the hypotenuse. To find the actual length of the hypotenuse ‘c’, simply take the square root of the sum. To put it succinctly, the final formula for the hypotenuse derived from the Pythagorean theorem is c = √(a² + b²). This straightforward method will allow you to determine the hypotenuse with confidence, whether for academic purposes or practical applications.