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The Pythagorean Theorem

John Kamalo (B.ENG, M.ENG)

Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, University of Port Harcourt

May 6, 2022

The Pythagoras theorem is usually explained as a situation where if we square the

hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle, the answer we get is the same as when the other two sides

are squared, respectively, and then added (Ratner, 2009). The Pythagorean or Pythagoras

Theorem is perhaps the most famous mathematical statement and is also considered the fourth

most beautiful equation. Recently, most users of the Pythagorean Theorem now think of it as an

algebraic equation, a+ b=c . However, Pythagoras considered it a geometric equation with

emphasis on areas.

Let us dive into a way this theorem can be used to solve questions about the right-angled

triangle.

The Pythagoras Theorem is written mathematically, as shown below:

a 2+ b2=c 2

Where c=thehypotenus e ,this is thelongest side .

a=the opposite side ,this is the one across ¿ a given angle .

b=the adjacent side , this isthe side next ¿ a givenangle .

θ=an example of a given angle.

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See figure 1 below for pictorial aid.

Figure 1.

So whenever we want to find c , what

we have to do is multiply side a by a , and b by b , respectively. After that, add the values gotten

from multiplying a by a ,∧b by b. Finally, the square root of the summation gives us the value for

our hypotenuse, c .

Check the equation below for a mathematical representation of the explanation given above on

how to find the hypotenuse, c .

Mathematically,

c= √ a + b
2 2

If a=1 and b=1, then c= √ a2+ b2= √ 12 +12=√ 2

To get the value for the opposite side a , or adjacent side b , what has to be done is simply change

the subject of the equation by making a or b the subject, respectively.

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Reference

Ratner, B. (2009). Everyone knows his famous theorem, but not who discovered it 1000 years

before him. Journal of Targeting, Measurement, and Analysis for Marketing (vol. 17).

https://doi.org/10.1057/jt.2009.16