Pythagorean theorem, step by step
Every answer on these sheets is a whole number, and that is on purpose.
The question
cm
Right triangle, 3 and 4
- The hypotenuse is the side OPPOSITE the right angle — never one of the two that make the corner. It is also always the longest, so you can check yourself twice.
- Here the hypotenuse is the missing one, so the two given sides are both legs: 3 and 4.
- Square the two you have: 3² = 9 and 4² = 16.
- The two squares ADD to the square on the hypotenuse: 9 + 16 = 25.
- That is the square, not the side. Take the square root: √25 = 5 cm.
How it works.
- 01
The hypotenuse is the side OPPOSITE the right angle — never one of the two that make the corner. It is also always the longest, so you can check yourself twice.
- 02
Here the hypotenuse is the missing one, so the two given sides are both legs: 3 and 4.
- 03
Square the two you have: 3² = 9 and 4² = 16.
- 04
The two squares ADD to the square on the hypotenuse: 9 + 16 = 25.
- 05
That is the square, not the side. Take the square root: √25 = 5 cm.