How do you determine if the lengths 9, 40, 41 form a right triangle?

1 Answer
Jan 6, 2017

Following the Pythagorean theorem, 9, 40, and 41 form a right triangle.

Explanation:

Every right triangle follows the a^2 + b^2 = c^2 format (also called the Pythagorean theorem).

a and b represent the two bases, which are also the two shorter sides. In this case, a could represent 9 and b could represent 40.

c in the equation is the variable for the hypotenuse, which is the longest length in a right triangle. Plug in 41 for c.

So a = 9, b = 40, and c=41

Now you'd test if 9^2 + 40^2 = 41^2

We'd solve, and get 81 + 1600 = 1681

Because 81+1600 does equal 1681, 9, 40, and 41 are the three lengths of one right triangle.