Calculate the hypotenuse or a missing leg of a right triangle using a² + b² = c².
What do you want to find?
Classic 3-4-5 triangle
a = 3, b = 4
c = √(9 + 16) = √25 = 5
Ladder against a wall — ladder = 10 ft, base = 6 ft
Find height: a = 6, c = 10
b = √(100 - 36) = √64 = 8 ft
The 3-4-5 right triangle has been known since ancient Egypt. Builders used knotted ropes with these proportions to create perfect right angles.