How to find the longest side of a right-angled triangle if we are given the two other sides?

We can find the longest side of a right angled triangle (also called the hypotenuse) by using Pythagoras' Theorem and considering the lengths of the two other sides given to us. Pythagoras' Theorem is written mathematically as H^2 = b^2 + c^2 where H is the length of the longest side, located opposite the right angle, and b and c are the lengths of the other two sides. In simple terms, the theorem explains that the square of the longest side is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides (b and c).To find the longest side we simply compute the square of side b (multiply it by itself) and add it to the square of side c. However, because this gives us the square of the longest side, we need to square root the value that we get from squaring and adding b and c, to obtain the length of the longest side.

Answered by Denzel C. Maths tutor

13252 Views

See similar Maths GCSE tutors

Related Maths GCSE answers

All answers ▸

A box contains 7 caramel doughnuts. They have masses of 56 g, 67 g, 45 g, 56 g, 58 g, 49 g and 50 g. Find the median, mean and mode values of these masses. Bonus: What mass of doughnut could be added to the box to make the mean mass = 61 g.


X^2+4x-21=0 Solve for x


A bag contains 5 red beads and 7 blue beads. Two beads are removed at random without replacement. Workout the probability that the two beads are the same colour.


A circle C1 has a centre at (3,0) and a radius 8. A second circle C2 has a centre (x,0) and radius 6. Given the radii of the 2 circles meet at right angles. Find x


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2024

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences